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

Garrison Keeler on Being a Senior Citizen

Q. As a senior citizen, do you feel that the health care system is doing all it can for your health problem?

A. I am not now, and never have been, a senior citizen. I happen to be 65 years old. Not the same thing. I am lively and quick, don't shamble or shuffle, and don't clutch the banister when I go down stairs. The brown spots on the backs of my hands are from experiments with a chemistry set when I was a boy. I have the urinary tract of a young horse. Doctors continue to be astonished. What was the question?

A Prairie Home Companion [newsletter@americanpublicmedia.org]

The Time is Now

Bill Hybels, Founder and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, says:
I’m operating with a theory these days that the greatest untapped resource in the next ten or fifteen years around this church is going to be all of the people who are finishing life 1, who don’t want to just go to dinner at 5:30 and shuffleboard. They love God, and they love our church, but we have to engage them at a whole different level … If we don’t call them to it, the call to golf might win.

Let's unleash the wisdom and talents of the ages that lies largely untapped within the men and women who have served God for several decades while rearing kids, making a career work and being responsible citizens. Many if not most are put on the shelf when it comes to using their experiences in the workplace to do the works of the Lord.

The Boomers and Silents are loaded with all that is needed to change the world. Let's help them find their place to serve, a community to partner with and the way to connect.

Health Care for Seasoned Citizens

Cost of Benefits to Seniors, Especially Health Care, Skyrocketed in 2007

I receive a daily newsletter from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest in America. Above is the headline taken from USA Today.

Feb 14, 2008 "The cost of government benefits for seniors soared to a record $27,289 per senior in 2007," which is an increase of 24 percent above the rate of inflation since 2000, according to an analysis by USA Today.

The paper pointed to medical costs as the main cause of the increase, saying that "health care and nursing homes cost the government more than Social Security payments for seniors age 65 and older" for the first time last year. This rise in costs of senior benefits comes at a time when the senior population has remained constant. However, the first baby boomers will turn 65 and qualify for Medicare starting in 2011, which will cause a spike in the number of seniors.

The USA Today analysis found that "Medicare experienced the most explosive growth from 2000 to 2007," with the Medicare prescription-drug benefit accounting for a quarter of the increase in Medicare costs. It also found that 35 percent of the federal budget goes to senior benefit costs, up from 32 percent in 2004. (Cauchon, USA Today, 2/14/08)

Social Security will go broke in 2011 and Medicare-Medicaid is costing the Federal Government much, much more than it can afford. In that kind of a crisis atmosphere, one would think that candidates for President would be discussing their plans for reducing costs and saving the safety network for our nation. Not so!!!

In the debate last night I did not hear one rational thought about the budget crisis in any of these programs. There was not one question about them from a panel obsessed with words.

Both Obama and Clinton promised huge new free expenditures for "Universal Health Care" but neither said how to pay for it. We are broke today so we promise gigantic new entitlements tomorrow. That sure works for my family.

We must put our most creative thinking on how to resolve these issues.

Ministry Time

I heard that the Atlantic Foundation gave over 100 million dollars in 2006 to develop programs that support Seasoned Citizens. At the same time churches are changing their focus from Seasoned Believers to Babes in Christ.

It is very important to reach young people and young families. Any church that fails to develop dynamic and effective ministries to the Millennials will soon die. Christianity is like the music business. It has to keep abreast of the most current musical styles because there are always new age groups with an interest in new things.

However, let us learn from the Music Business. They sell millions of recordings of "Golden Oldies" to Seasoned Citizens. Bill Gaither has become rich by focusing on the "Oldies But Goodies". It seems as though church leaders are tone deaf when it comes to serving customers from two or three different age groups. They serve the same "style" in every service regardless of the preference of the customer.

At Starbucks we can order coffee 721 different ways. At most churches we can't get coffee at all and if we do it is THEIR WAY.

The secular foundations are well aware of the Age Wave and are giving millions to help people prepare. Where are the Christians on this issue?

Sweeten Life Systems is dedicated to building churches, small groups and Seasoned Leaders who are qualified and trained to help us prepare for the future. We are showing them how to develop. A Lifetime of great relationships.

Send your donation to

Sweeten Life Systems

P.O. Box 498455

Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

Write me at gsweeten@cinci.rr.com to learn how to can transfer stocks to SLS and make a real difference for Seasoned Leaders

The Fourth Great Awakening

Michael Lindsay's book, Faith in the Halls of Power is an easy and interesting read. It is available from your favorite bookseller. I strongly recommend it.

Michael Lindsay is a member of the sociology faculty at Rice University where he is also the Faculty Associate of Leadership Rice and Assistant Director of the Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life. He formerly worked at Gallup and wrote two books with George Gallup.

Here is what Oxford Press, the publisher has to say about it.

Evangelicals, once at the periphery of American life, now wield power in the White House and on Wall Street, at Harvard and in Hollywood. How have they reached the pinnacles of power in such a short time? And what does this mean for evangelicals--and for America?Drawing on personal interviews with an astonishing array of prominent Americans--including two former Presidents, dozens of political and government leaders, more than 100 top business executives, plus Hollywood moguls, intellectuals, athletes, and other powerful figures--D. Michael Lindsay shows first-hand how they are bringing their vision of moral leadership into the public square. This riveting volume tells us who the real evangelical power brokers are, how they rose to prominence, and what they're doing with their clout. Lindsay reveals that evangelicals are now at home in the executive suite and on the studio lot, and from those lofty perches they have used their influence, money, and ideas to build up the evangelical movement and introduce it to the wider American society. They are leaders of powerful institutions and their goals are ambitious--to bring Christian principles to bear on virtually every aspect of American life. Along the way, the book is packed with fascinating stories and striking insights. Lindsay shows how evangelicals became a force in American foreign policy, how Fortune 500 companies are becoming faith-friendly, and how the new generation of the faithful is led by cosmopolitan evangelicals. These are well-educated men and women who read both The New York Times and Christianity Today ... Perhaps most startling is the importance of personal relationships between leaders--a quiet conversation after Bible study can have more impact than thousands of people marching in the streets.

This last sentence is very interesting. For some time I have been involved in developing networks of Seasoned Believers to share and support each other. Over a decade ago Jerry Kirk, Damon Lynch, Michael Dantley and I launched Hope for Cincinnati to bring Seasoned leaders together for mutual support, prayer and care. Ron Peake and I are still sponsoring quarterly gatherings at Kenwood Baptist Church and they are quiet but solid times for growth.

Lindsay's book indicates that the primary force behind the Evangelical Renewal in society comes not from the political or media giants but from leaders in business, industry, education and religion who come together to hear God. Stay tuned for more opportunities for collaboration, networking and mutual support.

According to the Nobel Prize winning economist Robert Fogel we are in the midst of a huge nation changing shift called The Fourth Great Awakening. And, it is being led by Seasoned Leaders from business, media, education and psychology.

Gary Sweeten
Seasoned Leader Coach and Consultant


gsweeten@cinci.rr.com

Out of Death Valley

Christianity Today has an article by Michael Lindsay that decries the number of Seasoned Believers who refuse to attend a church. Who prefer to gather with friends and family for discussions and study.

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2008/02/a_gated_communi_1.html

Here are a couple of his USA Today comments quoted by CT.

Michael Lindsay has, through extensive interviewing, tapped into a feature of American evangelicalism that’s both fascinating and frustrating: two distinct social tiers. He identified these as the “populist” and "cosmopolitan” groups, which he wrote about in Faith in the Halls of Power. But there’s another way of looking at evangelicals that divides them — much along the same lines — into elite and non-elite Christians.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The separation is fairly deep, it seems. So deep that they don’t really go to church together. In fact, Lindsay

writes in Monday’s USA Today, many of the evangelical elite (including George W. Bush) hardly go to church at all:
I spent the past five years interviewing some of the country's top leaders — two U.S. presidents (George H.W. Bush and Carter), 100 CEOs and senior business executives, Hollywood icons, celebrated artists and world-class athletes. All were chosen because of their widely known faith. Yet I was shocked to find that more than half — 60% — had low levels of commitment to their denominations and congregations. Some were members in name only; others had actively disengaged from church life.

(Gary says, "This generated about one tenth of the posts an article on church for kids draws, and I know why. Ministry to or of Seasoned Believers is not very interesting or controversial. Here is my comment. ")

About a year ago I was led to launch a new ministry focused on men and women who have served God faithfully for two decades or more but find themselves with no place to gather and minister today. Most churches have a plce for babies, kids, youth, college and career, young couples and old folks but nothing for the very vital, gifted, talented, wise, experienced Boomers and Pioneers.
We have the experience, money and wisdom to lead, volunteer and start new ministries but few ministers who see our value. "Why Men Hate Church" says a lot but Seasoned Believers of any gender are unwelcome in most churches except to take a bus ride to Branson.
Contact me if you want to find a niche with other Seasoned Leaders and we will solve our own ministry issues and sing what we want to sing.

Mr. Lindsay's book, Faith in the Halls of Power is a very informative look at the way Evangelicals have risen from poverty and the margins of society to enormous influence in politics, the arts, education and social justice.

In the coming decades, ministries to and with Seasoned Saints will blossom and bloom into a major spiritual revival around the world. Those ministers and churches who are creative enough to see the future will reap huge dividends for the Kingdom of God.

Now Hear This!

Announcement!!!


I have been regularly writing on two of my three blogs. That is a bit much so I am going to slow down and post most of my thoughts on Brave Heart.





http://garysweetenblogspotcom.blogspot.com/





Few people are clicking on Seasoned Believers but many on Brave Heart.


I will post occasional ideas here but not as many as in the past. We will have our new web site up before long and I will alert you about its address.


Remember the March 15 half day of training on "Dialogue Prayer" at Crestview Presbyterian Church. Save the date.


WHERE:9463 Cincinnati Columbus RdWest Chester, OH 45069513.777.6555 (p)513.777.5868



DIRECTIONS:

9463 Cincinnati-Columbus Road (Rt. 42)
West Chester, OH

Two (2) miles north of I-275 at Sharonville.



Talking and Listening to God and His People.

Cost $25.00

Register at gsweeten@cinci.rr.com

Details will follow.

A Very, Very Seasoned Citizen

Some of us are getting very seasoned because we have to put up with service companies that offer only poor services that rip us off and do it in rude and crude ways. I am tired of banks that cannot count, telephone companies that include big fees for no reason and FreeCreditReport.com that charged $75.00 to my credit card for just logging onto their web site.

So here is a "real" letter from an 86 year old Seasoned Citizen who got fed up with her bank. She decided to be a "Thorn in their side".

Dear Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.

You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways.

I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.

Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.

I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field further. When you call press buttons as follows:

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH

#1. To make an appointment to see me

#2. To query a missing payment.

#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.

#4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping

#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home

#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.

#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.

#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?

Your Humble Client

A New Prayer for Children

What would you say is the worst prayer ever written for kids?

How many kid prayers do you know?

Send me your nominees and I will post them. (Unless they scare me.)

I have a nominee but I will not spoil your fun. The winner will receive a free copy of my book.

Prayer Meeting Coming Soon-Save the Date

Ever since I was a little boy I have been involved in various kinds of prayer. In fact, my very egalitarian view of the chruch was probably pressed into my heart at a very early age. It was as a child that I accompanied my Grand Mother Taylor, Mom Taylor to us, to very powerful Bible study, prayer and worship services led by lay people.

The name back then was not "Home Groups" or "Cell Groups" but "Cottage Prayer Meetings". I did not quite understand what the term "cottage" meant until later but it was the equilivent of "Home Meetings".

For those of you who have attended rather dull and uninspiring home meetings I wish you could have been with me in the Fifties. Those groups really rocked. We sang, jumped around to the music, clapped, tapped and some even shouted. (Mom Taylor was a Holiness Christian who believed in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and lots of ardor with just a bit of order.

These prayer meetings also had some intensive prayers going on. People dropped to their knees, wept and cried out to God for mercy and healing. At my Southern Baptist Church we practiced more order than ardor. Our prayers were cool and detached. I preferred the Holiness way of praying and singing.

I also learned to pray on a point until we were finished. The group would focus on a specific need and everyone could take his turn until the prayer was heard. Then the group moved on to another topic.

I re-learned that process, I now call it "Dialogue Prayer" in the Jesus Movement. I read a book by Roz Rinker on the topic and the memories of great, intensive and deep prayer filled me with excitement again.

O March 15 we will have a half day experiential workshop in dialogue prayer. I promise it will not be dull. I fully expect God to show Himself strongly in our midst. If God is distant in your life or you want a more active and fulfilling prayer life, this is for you.

Save the date!! March 15, 9:00 AM-12:30

Have A Piece of My Mind

From RexBarker@Joke-Of-The-Day.com

* There are two kinds of people in the world: those who make excuses and those who get results. An excuse person will find any excuse for why a job was not done, and a results person will find any reason why it can be done. Be a creator, not a reactor.-- Alan Cohen, A Deep Breath Of Life

* What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

* You can't have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.-- Charles F. Kettering

* The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.-- Alvin Toffler

* The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change and the REALIST adjusts his sails.-unknown

Senior Believers Can Change

One of the great myths about people like me is the notion that older people are rigid and cannot change. It is my experience that as we age we become more like what we have always been. Flexible people get more flexible and rigid folks grow in brittleness.

Here is why ministers and other reformers find rigid resistance to change in their churches. The Number I. Reason why old people rule churches with an iron hand is because it is rigid young people who have always ruled churches.

Let's fact it. Most churches are not innovative, no matter who is in charge. I often listen to the Stanford and Wharton pod casts on my iPod on innovation. Almost every modern company promotes innovation, creativity and change. If they do not, they will be left behind.

Microsoft is one of the largest and richest as well as one of the the most innovative companies in the world. Why? Because they spend millions of dollars every year to promote more innovation. But even more crucial is the fact that they work to promote innovation as a core value.

Is your church innovative? Does it promote change and new ideas? If it does, the seniors will be the most innovative group in your church. However, shallow, poorly planned and implemented ideas will also be criticized and rejected.

Because of our experience and wisdom we can often tell if something will work or not. If it is a good idea we will support it. If it is a bad idea we will challenge it. Either way we will be open about our ideas.

Seasoned Believers are wise and experienced Believers. Don't allow your mis understanding about rigidity and age fool you into thinking we will not change.

Seniors, what is your experience with innovation in a church?

Do you have a place to share your ideas?

Self Respect

Martin Luther King, Jr. Knew Himself


A man named Charles Handy of Europe seems to have a great way of talking about the real important things of life. The way Handy put it in his book, The Hungry Spirit , was this:

“I spent the early part of my life trying hard to be someone else. At school I wanted to be a great athlete, at university an admired socialite, afterwards a businessman and, later, the head of a great institution. It did not take me long to discover that I was not destined to be successful in any of these guises, but that did not prevent me from trying, and being perpetually disappointed with myself. The problem was that in trying to be someone else I neglected to concentrate on the person I could be. … I was, in retrospect, hiding from myself, a slave to the system rather than its master.”





I have been teaching a class called, "How to be me in my Family Tree" and it garners a lot of interest. How can we embrace who we are and allow God to bring out of that what we do?

By refusing to acknowledge and embrace ourselves fully we struggle to emulate someone else and end up being nobody. The most important thing we can do as Christian leaders is help people face themselves and find joy rather than depression in the discovery.

Who have you failed to be as you grew toward yourself?

Training Pastors and Leaders

Have you heard about the failure of churches in the Willow Creek Association to disciple or care for their most committed members? The research was carried out by the Willow Creek Association and contained in their book, REVEAL.

Bill Hybels, the marketing genius of Willow Creek, told the attendees of the failures during the annual Leadership Conference in August. It has caused a lot of blogging and discussion and even some back stepping by some of the Willow leaders.

I thought the research and the book was a courageous attempt to see what kind of results they were getting from all their hard work and talk about leadership. Well, it was pretty disappointing to them.

It seemd to show that members of the Willow Association Churches were dissatisfied at two key points.

1. After coming to Christ and enrolling in a church when they "hit a rough spot or two" and the churches failed to help them.

2. After staying deeply involved in the church as learners and doers for several years the churches failed to disciple them.

The result? 25% said they were ready to switch churches in the coming year.

HOPE for Cincinnati has support for struggling leaders. Pastors cannot do it alone. Help is on the way!

Hope for Cincinnati Training for Leaders 2008

Gary Sweeten and Ron Peake

We have a great lineup of fellowship and equipping coming in 2008 for men and women leaders who face so many ministry challenges. Of all the careers available to humanity the call of God to bring the good news in all its glory to those lost in present, future and eternal pain is the biggest challenge.

From Burn Out to Blazing Bright
How to Be Agents of Change While Retaining our Joy

For the last decade Ron and Gary have focused their main ministry efforts on the training and support of Pastors, Missionaries and Lay Leaders. We have traveled far and wide to Coach, Consult and Counsel godly men and women who have hit the wall, been burned to a crisp by overwork and a loss of first love with little motivation to go on.

In 2008 Hope for Cincinnati will focus on Prevention, Personal Growth and Peer Support for God’s Servants.

Prayer, Worship and Liberating Insights

February 21
May 15
August 21
November 20

Kenwood Baptist Church
Kenwood Road (South of Reagan)
8:30-10:30 Coffee & Mutual Care

Hearing God Speak

It won't be long before we have a gathering for Seasoned Believers who want to learn to talk to and listen to the Lord. When we followed up the October 13 time at Winton Woods with a small questionnaire, it became clear that a lot of people want to return to their first love and learn better how to "Abide in Christ and hear His still, small voice."

Well, put aside the date of March 15. It will definitely be a day of teaching, sharing, journal writing and listening. Our training sessions follow a DREAMS acrostic to make sure we have a time that is balanced, fun, insightful and experiential.

D=Didactic meaning talks and reading. (But brief)
R=Reflection or thinking and discussing what you are learning.
E=Experiential that practice what we preach and touch and see God at work
A=Accountability that keeps us focused on the most important learning's
M=Modeling that allows us to watch others practice God at work
S=Supernatural, encountering God's Spirit personally

On March 15 we will have a half day of DREAMS!

Financial Responsibility

Scrooge and the Cratchit Family


What is the best way to encourage Believers, both Seasoned and Beginners, to use wisdom about how they make, spend, donate and save money? There are many approaches, and some work well and others do not. More importantly, some violate the basic principles of the scripture and others are very consistent with the Bible.


The Bible does not talk about how to live in a wealthy Capitalistic Society like the USA because no such thing existed then. Poverty was rampant and common people used bartering and farming as the primary means of surviving. Now, we in the West have the opposite problems that existed in the days of Abram, David and Jesus.

We have too much and they had too little. Solomon was one of the wealthiest men on earth but even poor people have more today than he had then. Most of us have in door toilets, running water, heat in winter and air conditioners in summer.

So, how do we approach the matters of money in a culture of too much? Our problems are obesity and more things than we can store in our homes.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer some 30 churches in Cincinnati are doing a series on "Materialism" to combat people who have too much.

The program is called "Consumed," an intense sermon series and accompanying Bible study created by Crossroads Community Church in Oakley.

"We tried to identify what are the spiritual needs of our community, and we felt that it's being on this treadmill of buying things and judging and being judged by what we have and how much money we make," said Crossroads Pastor Brian Tome. "We're not even American people anymore; we're American consumers. It's a dominant influence in our lives, and it's hurting people."

More than 30 other churches have joined with Crossroads to follow the journey simultaneously. The pastors are meeting to discuss each week's theme, and then each will deliver his own message to congregations and incorporate it into additional church activities.

"We, as pastors, really want to make a difference in the city, and by linking arms with other churches and taking this journey together, we can do that," said Pastor Matt Massey of North Star Vineyard. The church meets Sundays at 9 and 10:30 a.m. at Loveland Junior High School.

What do you think about this? Will it be effective?


Will Christan's consume less as a result? (I assume that is one goal although the article does not say.)





Will people love God and neighbor more?





Will they lose weight?





Are folks going to put more in savings? (A huge need in America.)





Will giving rates rise? (The percentage of giving is pretty small now.)





I would love to hear your take on this!


PS Perhaps the most famous Christian attempt to motivate people to share their money is the book, The Christmas Carol. Scrooge was converted and opened his heart to others. The drawing above illustrates his changed heart.

Politicians

The debate among five Republican pols tonight was pretty good. At least they are not promising every citizen and illegal immigrant on earth a free education and free unlimited medical care forever. The Democrats are seemingly trying to out do each other in false promises.

But, still, it does not appear that the debators are taking seriously the huge number of people who are hitting sixty every day and what that will do to Medicare, Medicaid and taxes. Can you say, "Break the bank?"

I need to examine more closely the statements of these men. I know what the Dem's are saying and, since I can count, know it cannot work. So, let's just elect a nice person who will lie to us because we demand it instead of an adult who will tell us the truth.

Debt and Poverty

Last week a group of Christian leaders got together to share what is happening in our lives. The issue of financial freedom came up and I was happy to hear that several of them have both a weekly emphasis upon financial issues along with semi annual or quarterly video sessions about the need for Believers to use their financial resources wisely.

Some have a "Creed" about financial and practical resources they ask the congregation to read each week. This emphasizes that finances are important not only as a tithe but as resources for living.

Rex Schrolucke, Pastor of Trinity Christian Fellowship, is using a 13 week DVD series by Dave Ramsey to teach his, Financial Peace University materials. Rex was very positive about the practical ways his people have benefitted from the training.

I recommend Dr. Ruby Payne's book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty as a great resource. It has helped me understand how background and culture influence our approach to financial issues.

Many churches and Christian groups give money and resources to the chronically poor without realizing they might be making the problem worse for the current and future generations.

City Cure of Cincinnati uses Dr. Payne's approach in an ongoing ministry to help people break the cycle of generational poverty. Contact them at:

Roger Howell
rhowell@cityministries.com
http://citycure.org/
(513) 345-1023

What have you found helpful to get people out of debt and poverty? Let us know.

Better Relationships

The central focus of Sweeten Life Systems is to enhance the relationships of individuals and organizations. It is impossible to have healthy relationships in the office and factory is they are dysfunctional at home.

The Families at Work Institute and has a lot to say to the situation we face today in America. To read the entire report go to: http://familiesandwork.org/site/research/reports/3wbooklet.pdf

Today’s U.S. workforce and workplace are in transition. In Families and Work Institute’s (FWI) nationally representative study of the U.S. workforce, the National Study of the Changing Workforce, we find dramatic changes over the past 25 years.

To begin, the workforce is aging.

In 1977, just over a third of the workforce (38%) was over 40-years-old; today, more than half (56%) is (over 40).

Women today play an increasingly vital role, making up nearly half of thewage and salaried workforce. In addition, work hours for many employees are climbing and jobs have become more hectic and demanding.

Life at home has also changed with an increase in the number of dual earner couples in the workplace (from 66% of couples in 1977 to 78% today), which has created pressure among working families.

55 percent of employees feel they don’t have enough time for themselves,

63 percent feel they don’t have enough time for their spouses

67 percent feel they don’t have enough time for their children.

Repercussions of these trends are being experienced by employers as well. FWI data reveal that

39 percent of employees are not fully engaged in their jobs,

54 percent are less than fully satisfied with their jobs

38 percent are somewhat or very likely to make a concerted effort to find a new job in the coming year.

Employers are challenged to recruit talent, engage and retain workers, and maximize productivity.

How can employers accomplish their goals and continue the high productivity if families are so stressed that individuals cannot function well? What can we do? It is clear that additional family counseling alone is not enough.

I am a Family Therapist who has spent a great deal of his adult life counseling couples and families. I also founded two counseling centers and one in-patient psychiatric hospital to treat distressed people. Crisis counseling is not nearly enough!

The only answer is for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to establish centers that will actually teach people how to develop healthy relationships. We need hundreds of churches in each city that are so concerned about individual children that they equip adults how to be good parents.

I am happy to see "Divorce Recovery" groups springing up in a few of the 5,000 or so congregations in Greater Cincinnati, but that is too late. We know the major causes of divorce and we know how to teach people to avoid one. Why do so few churches and community organizations do anything to prevent divorce?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It is possible to prevent problems. It is also less expensive and less traumatizing to everyone concerned. Why not do it???