What About Your Region?

Most of the people who read this blog are from places far removed from Ohio. We have many readers from California, Massachusetts, Great Britain, Spain, Russia and Asia. Welcome to my world.

I wrote earlier today about the dramatic and ominous changes that are occurring in Ohio. I think these are similar if not worse in other regions of the USA and the world.

Europe is in worse shape than the US. The nations in Europe have a much lower birth rate and are not replacing the deaths. This means more immigrants.

People there retire earlier than we and have greater social security. But, there are fewer workers meaning that the retirements cannot be sustained. And, unlike the USA, very few Europeans have private retirement plans.

The crisis there is even worse than here and it is horrible here.

Storm Warnings

I have been talking about the ominous and potentially dangerous tidal wave of aging people for some time. It is an "Age Wave" that is more threatening to us than Al Qada or Iran. It might destroy the USA.

Despite that fact, only one Republican candidate, Ron Paul, even mentioned it last night in the debate. The Democrats are even worse if that is possible. They mention seniors but recommend worse solutions than passive acceptance. They want to throw more money away and a lack of money is the crisis.

Despite the implication for every church and Christian organization in the Western Democracies almost no Christian leader is addressing it. Talk about an ostrich mentality!

The church's answer is to drive hard to recruit more kids and abandon ministries that appeal to Seasoned Believers.

The Cincinnati Enquirer has a headlined story about the crisis in the paper today. In the article is a web link to The OHIO PUBLIC EXPENDITURE COUNCIL that put out the report mentioned by the paper. Read the report at: http://news.enquirer.com/assets/AB96286110.PDF

Here are a few facts:

1. Today, Ohio experiences a daily net increase of 14 people age 65 or older.


2. By 2012, that number grows to 119 per day.
3. A half-million more Ohioans will leave the work force than enter it between 2011 and 2020!


4. OPEC President Rick Yocum called it a disaster for state and local budgets, with no obvious solution. "You're never going to be able to pass a school levy," Yocum said. He called the numbers "ominous."

More on this later.

Good Book

One of the great challenges we all face today is how to relate to workers, churches and families with folks from several different generations. It is hard when we see the world through different glasses. In fact, we may even believe that younger people have very different and, therefore, faulty values.

Jennifer J. Deal, research scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership, says, "Don't give up! There is hope for leaders and managers." Her very interesting book, Retiring the Generation Gap lays out the results from several thousand studies about various generational age groups and suggests that almost all of us have similar values.

What, then is the problem? Why do we have so much difficulty understanding each other? Jennifer suggests it is because we communicate our values in very different ways.

Dr. Deal researches people by a different set of age cohorts than we usually see. She separates the age groups into:

Name------------Born------Type

Silents-----------1925-45---Quieter but with great influence

Early Boomers--1946-54---Right after WWII-Huge

Late Boomers--1955-63----Second Half of Boomers

Early Xers------1964-76---Boom is over-Bad rap from a novel

Late Xers-------1977-86---Younger Gen X

The Silents and Early Boomers have enormous clout. Clout is what separates the generations and attitudes. Many Silents are invisible since the group is smaller than Boomers. However, they are often influential, wealthy and successful. The Silents plus the Early Boomers do not identify themselves as "Seniors" or as "Over the Hill" so they are often left out of our plans.

When Dr. Deal, her PhD. is from Ohio State, sorts out her data she concludes that there are several myths about different generational attitudes. The myth: "Young people are flexible and open to change while Boomers fear change". Ms. Deal says, "That is wrong! Neither group likes change if it threatens their jobs and reduces their resources. The issue of threat is who has the CLOUT!

The book has a subtitle that says it all: "How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground". I suggest that leaders carefully read this and other books about the best ways to understand and influence different age groups.

More Great Information

Boomers Knocking on SS and on Church Doors

My friend Ron Tate is reading about everything there is about Boomers and Pioneers. He then summarizes it and posts it on his blog. "The Boomer Wave" http://theboomerwave.blogspot.com/

I do enjoy reading his stuff because he has done the hard work of filtering out the fluff so I don't have to. Anyone interested in Christian ministry, church growth and how to be a "missional church" needs to look at Ron's blog and start thinking seriously about the implications of the facts he presents.

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The Federal Government has been planning ways to meet the needs of the enormously large number of maturing, seasoned citizens for decades. Is your church thinking about how to wisely integrate these huge groups into its life?

Sign Up

If you are a Seasoned Believer, send me your name and email address so we can add you to our growing list of contacts.

Just place it on the Comments Page.

Books and Such Things

Our Latest Book: good for Coaches, Mentors and Counselors

Solomon wrote that, "Of the making of books there is no end" and that is just one of many reasons he was considered to be a very wise man. I have produced several books, usually in conjunction with other colleagues and friends.

In every case my books have arisen out of the research I did on my Doctorate at the University of Cincinnati way back in 1974 and 75. During my course work in Counselor Education I saw research that growth and healing are mostly the result of the relationship between a Helper-Counselor and a Seeker-Client than the knowledge and theories of the Helper-Counselor.

This research was shocking because most of our classes emphasized the theories and styles of the Counselor who was supposed to be an expert on diagnosing and treating Clients. Students were paying thousands of dollars to learn things that really did not work.

My dissertation looked at how the Bible and outcome research on counselors and not their theories, could be correlated. There is a very high correlation between the fruit of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22ff and healing. The Bible was written two thousand years before counseling texts but already indicated what really works in care and counsel.

So, what did I do? I began to write books that trained people how to relate in the skills most closely related to the fruit of the Spirit. We called the first book, Apples of Gold and the rest is history. Some 300,000 people have taken the Apples' Courses and read the books in over 50 countries from Norway to Russia to Cuba to South Africa to Taiwan to Australia to New Zealand.

These three remain; faith, hope and love, but the greatest is love.

See http://www.amazon.com/ and type in my name, Gary Sweeten to order my books.

Relationships

Tomorrow morning I get to speak at Horizon Community Church about the importance of relationships. I am going to focus on Jesus' teaching in MT 18:15-21. I only have about 30 minutes and it is hard to diagnose and treat this topic in such a short amount of time.

MT 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

It is very difficult to go to a person that has wounded us and be reconciled. Going may not be the problem but doing it in a loving way certainly can be. I am usually hurt, emotional and wanting revenge.

But Jesus, that most brilliant of all ministers to the soul, gives wise and healing counsel. Go alone and win your brother back.

The tendency for a lot of us is to go to someone else and tell them all about it. It seems so powerful if we can just go and destroy the person's reputation that attacked me. But Jesus says, "No revenge. Go and win your brother back.

Relationships are important to Jesus. He created us to relate with one another in love. In fact, He said, "Everything in the entire Bible comes down to loving God and your neighbor."

The older we get the more people we know and have in our families. This gives us more people to love and enjoy. It also gives us more time to be reconciled. Isn't that great?

Faith, Hope and Love, but the Greatest is Love

Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples
Recently I heard from a rather famous researcher on the powerful affects of agape or biblical love. Dr. Stephen Post heads The Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. Dr. Post had evidently heard of my writing and work in the area of healing love and sent me some of his research.

Over the next few months I intend to report on some of his findings, especially as it relates to Seasoned Citizens and health. They define Agape Love as altruism or Gift Love. It is observed in people who give to others with no demand of anything in return. And, just as scripture promises, when we give in love we also receive.

More on this later. See the web of Dr. Post

http://www.unlimitedloveinstitute.com/

Effective Groups-Stop Global Time Wasting

We humans spend an awful lot of time in groups. Sometimes it is called a committee, sometimes a task force, sometimes a leadership team and sometimes a Bible or book study. All of these are groups and all groups have a tendency to wobble off the tracks and become dysfunctional.

A few years ago some consulting group or another estimated that the time lost in inefficient and ineffective groups costs businesses and industries many billions of dollars. Their suggested answer was, "Train people how to organize and run effective groups."

I have been very fortunate that some of the best mentors and coaches in the world taught me how to effectively lead groups. Not that I always accomplish my goals because I may get lazy or rushed, but I have been well trained.

Ken Shull, an Elder at College Hill Church, was on key my mentor/coach on how to keep groups on track. He was low key, gentle but very effective and I was amazed at how much he could accomplish in half the time that we usually spent wrestling over inane and useless ideas in other groups.

The most important things in life are time and people. Wasting time and people in bad meetings is a terrible waste to churches, businesses and community groups. Especially when people could learn in a few hours how to stop Global Time Wasting!

I wish Al Gore would do a movie about it.

Boredom and Love: Are they Compatible?

In Ron Tate's latest blog, the Boomer Blogger, he writes tellingly about why people leave or drop out of church. He read a book about "Exit Interviews" and quotes why so many people are fed up with their churches.

Is it too much love? Too much respect? Too much support and caring? Too much action and excitement?

Read Ron's stuff. You may be surprised.

What is Important?

Starting the new year I am trying to keep the main thing the main thing. That probably needs to be on a big sign hanging over my desk so I don't forget it.

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It seems as though it is easy to get distracted from the "Main Thing" and go off on various "Rabbit Trails" that waste time, energy and lots of money.

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Ever since I started studying psychology and counseling in Grad School I have been amazed by how consistently the research reveals the same or very similar things about what is important to healing, growth and change. It is not how much education we have nor is it what theories we follow and the advice we give.

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The same is true of evangelism and church growth. Almost everyone who comes to faith in Christ does so though a caring friend. Rarely does an agnostic decide to follow Christ after meeting an angry fundamentalist.
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Nope, most of it comes down to the same stuff I read about in Sunday school. Loving and caring for one another is the core of being helpful to people. Love covers a multitude of problems and sins.

As the old saying goes, "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Insights in 2007?

Many groups publish "The Top Ten Stories of 2007" but I would like to know your top ten, or top five or top two, insights or events or 07.

1. We launched a new name and new board for our ministry. We changed the name and focus from Life Way Inc to Sweeten Life Systems.

2. I heard the Lord call us to launch a new ministry to Seasoned Believers under the umbrella of Sweeten Life Systems.

3. I visited the Czech Republic to support Craig and Sarah Springer as they launched a new church in Prague.

4. A new slogan Soul Seasonings-A life time of great relationships(SM)

5. I got to watch the Lord bring healing and growth to several believers.

Great Bosses Over Age 80

If you think you are over the hill at 50, 60 or even 70 just read this article. It has a list of active, alert, wise and dynamic men and women who are still head and shoulders above their organizations.

If you like what you do, why stop it? I love golf but I would be bored to tears if I did not get to help people through coaching and consulting with them.

I was born to be a helper and an educator. I love what I do and have no plans to stop. If I won the lottery I would still work because the work keeps me going.

I hope you Seasoned Believers find this article interesting. I hope it inspires you to discover your passion and follow that star to joy. Joy is allowing yourself to do what God created you to do.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/CoolestBossesOver80.aspx

The Start of Something Big

Above is a modern revival.

On the left is George Whitfield, perhaps the greatest revivalist and preacher who ever spoke in English .

Christianity Today reports that a huge revival is occurring on many college campuses today. The last great revival of the Sixties and Seventies that broke out in America also began on college campuses and spread quickly to churches and home around the world.

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The article is located at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/december/32.46.html

I hope you will be encouraged by this turn of events and join in the activities of the Holy Spirit at any event you can attend. There is a one day gathering on January 12 in Cincinnati that many thousands are expected to attend. See you there.

Maybe this is the start of something big.

Many of us Seasoned Believers received our big bang start in revival meetings thirty or forty years ago and could use another burst of Holy Spirit energy to keep us fired up.

Go to http://www.thecall.com/Group/Group.aspx?id=1000019217

for more information on this day of fasting and prayer at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. The event is free but registration is necessary.

The First Christmas

Now, we shall look at another famous Christmas story

Luke 2:1-20
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.

From the very beginning people rushed to see the baby Jesus. Later, after 30 years, the adult Jesus. Hard nosed, blue collar shepherds who worked the third shift were drawn to see the babe. Later, three astrologers from Persia came to see Him cdarrying with them gifts of gold, frankincense and murr. This is but an inkling of the great crowds that would seek Him out.

Unlike Scrooge, people longed to be near Jesus and threw themselves at His feet, touched the hem of His garment and followed Him around Palestine to watch Him and fellowship with Him. Throughout scripture, we are taught that our outer body communicates an inner reality of the heart. Jesus spoke of the eye as a metaphor for the things we love and place our attention upon.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matt 6:21-23 (NIV)

Scrooge's visage was so evil that even the dogs of blind men turned away as if to say, "No eye at all is better than an evil eye." Jesus, however, looked upon people with compassion, mercy and warm love.

Albert Mehrabian found that the tone of our voice and the position of our bodies are more powerful in messages than the words we use. Tone of voice is a factor five times more powerful than our best language with some 38% of the message. Try this experiment. The next time you see a dog, make a very mean comment in a warm, loving tone of voice. You may try something like this. "You ugly old dog I am going to beat you with a stick." There is no doubt that the dog will respond by wagging his tail and will come over for a pat on the head.

Despite the words you use, he senses your kindness. You may also try the opposite tack and say nice things in a harsh tone. Then the dog will scurry away in fear.

Dr. Mehrabian discovered that body language speaks even more powerfully than tone of voice. Body language has 7 times more influence, 55%, than the words. Scrooge's demeanor said, "Stay away from me. I dislike you. Come to me and I will give you the boot!"

Jesus communicated a different message. He said verbally and non verbally, "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Jesus lived in the fruit of the Spirit so people wanted to be with Him and draw strength, rest and peace from the Spirit. Pray that we might grow in the Spirit and draw people to the Lord by our words and deeds.

This is one reason why a simple "Thank you" or a "Merry Christmas" can bless another person's body and soul. Ask the Lord to produce more spiritual fruit in us in the New Year of 2008.

News From Russia

Life in Russia

Life is very hard for ordinary people in Russia. They often turn to alcohol to deaden their pain but it makes things worse. Galina and her friends do a lot with very little, so they need our prayer and support.

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The web master recently posted several photos from training sessions around the former USSR. One set even comes from the Russian public high schools. Our friends are able to do in Russia what we cannot do here in America.

Go to http://www.liferoute.ru/ and check it out.

Unless you read Russian click the Union Jack, or English flag.

They have also added updates to the online Recovery Bible but it is all in Russian. The Christian 12 Steps are also in Russian.

Support them by your prayer. Write me gsweeten@cinci.rr.com for more information.

The Electronic Church

A friend of mine attended the recent Seasoned Believers' Gathering and became so excited that he started writing a blog. "The Boomer Wave" http://theboomerwave.blogspot.com/

Ron Tate has read or is reading about everything there is about the current Age Wave of people getting "Older and Wiser" as the Pioneers and Boomers hit age 60 and above. If you are interested in what the experts are saying, click on Ron's site and you will find plenty to stimulate your thinking.

Brain Health

I have been involved in Pastoral Care and Clinical counseling for a long time. As you may know, the Mood Disorders of Anxiety and Depression are the most frequent emotional struggles humans face. Billions of dollars are spent on medications each year and billions more spent on lost time from work and home duties.

One of the myths about dealing with mood disorders says, "You must rest more. Stress is getting you down." That is not true. Facing and overcoming a mood disorder requires us to get out of bed and take a walk. It means we need to face our issues and work through them. But, we don't feel like it.

One of the myths about reaching the "age of retirement" is similar. It says, "You have worked hard all your life now slow down, stop entirely and retire. Don't do anything but fish, golf and rest."

If you have been a compulsive worker all your adult life that may sound real good. However, "Life without purpose is not worth living." Life without purpose is boring and dull and depressive.

Yesterday a friend told me about a relative who sued her husband for divorce after 53 years. That is shocking to me. The only thing I could think of was they both retired and stayed home all day in each other's space.

There are two major lakes in Israel. The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The name of the second lake is a give away about the situation. The Sea of Galilee is lush, green and full of fish. Nothing grows in the Dead Sea. Why? Because water flows into and out of the Sea of Galilee but it only flows into the Dead Sea.

Narcissism is a Dead Sea of salts and selfishness. Jesus was psychologically and emotionally correct when He said, "It is more blessed to give than receive." I don't mean compulsive, driven co-dependence but fun, energetic caring relationships that mutually build up all parties. Not works based on having to do but being based on a deep knowledge of God's grace and love.

The danger is withdrawal into self instead of abiding in Christ and relating in love to others.

Don't Retire-Refire!

Ps. During good weather, a group of us plays golf together each week at Sharon Woods. GOLF is God's Outdoor Loving Fellowship! We play, pray and pay for each other.

gsweeten@cinci.rr.com

I Apologise

Forgive Me Lord

As I looked over the Seasoned Believers' blog I found that it actually conveys a feeling that is the opposite of what I believe. Visitors seem to come away with the feeling that I want people to work harder and longer to earn God's favor or at least my favor. Nothing can be farther from the truth. I am so sorry I led you astray.

The key to freedom as a Seasoned Believer is not DOING but BEING.

Another way of saying this is: Performance does not produce Person hood. Person hood results in joyful Performances with God.

Second, BEING/Person hood is not earned, deserved or produced. It is offered freely by a gracious God as a result of our faith in Him.

Third, our BEING/Person hood is caught or recognized and apprehended or appreciated as a result of learning how to abide in the finished work of Christ.

Fourth, we tend to "hit the wall" through a crisis after serving God for several decades. It is not restricted to Baby Boomers but most Boomers have at some time, "Hit the wall".

Fifth, the crisis often slows us down enough for us to seek God in a spiritually transforming manner. We finally begin to understand the passage, "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials..." James 1:2-3

Sixth, Seasoned Believers are at the wall, through the wall or frustrated with the wall and the lack of resources in the church to help them understand the wall in God's plan. DOING more or Performing better will not help us move through the wall.

Seventh, it is our goal to support people as they seek God's guidance and voice through the wall and afterwards.

See you at the wall...

Seasoned Believers is a ministry of Sweeten Life systems, a 501c3 not-for profit faith based charity. (Formerly Life Way Incorporated) P.O. Box 498455, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

The Life Way Counseling Centers is a separate Clinical Counseling Group organized as a C Corporation. It supports Sweeten Life Systems but the two organizations have no official corporate connections although Dr. Sweeten is the founder of both.

News from the Real World

Kids

I read the electronic Wall Street Journal opininionjournal@wsj.com almost daily and in it I find good writing and articles about life and business and the business of life. Sometimes the articles amaze me. Take a look at this one on the Juggle Blog.

http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2007/12/19/balancing-career-and-family-and-disillusion/#comment-26191

There was an opinion piece in yesterday’s Journal that looks at the possible sociological consequences if many women are able to freeze their unfertilized eggs. The author argues that given the choice, many will pursue careers until their 50s, then opt to have children.
One passage, about the disillusionment some women face when trying to balance a career and a family, caught my eye:

Many young men and women go through high school, college and professional school often mistakenly assuming no differences in their respective trajectories . . . When I suggested to a 22-year-old female medical student that she consider a career in anesthesiology because the hours were flexible enough to raise a family, she shot back: “I went to Harvard! Now I’m going to Johns Hopkins! I’m going to be a department chairman someday! And you want to put me on the mommy track?”

Seven years later, when this woman applied for a job as an anesthesiologist, the first question she asked me was: “I’m trying to have a baby. Can I go part time?

The author concludes that egg freezing will allow women “the freedom to leisurely follow the male career trajectory . . . no more lurching from Harvard to the mommy track.”

As "Seasoned Citizens" how do you respond to this article? How would you like to start your family at age 50, frozen eggs and all? I am sure a lot of our readers are 50 and older. I am happy to have grand kids now but I only have enough energy and resilience to care for them a day or two before I run out of steam. As Lily, the five year old said, "Papa sleeps a lot."

One of the things we do is try to offer wisdom and support to our kids and grand kids. I was driven to succeed; to be somebody when I was a young dad. Because of my driven lifestyle in the ministry I missed a lot of things with my kids. But, we traveled together and I made sure I coached all of Tim's teams, even soccer.

We lived several hundred miles from our parents. I wish we had been closer. Now I see how important grand parents can be.

Karen and I try to be with our kids and grand kids whenever we can. Last night we had a wonderful time at a Christmas program at Lily's church school. It was great to see her. Jacob sat next to us singing with his sister and going through the liturgy like a pro. Nothing can be better than that.

Last week we drove to Pittsburgh to be with Jack as Tim and Shelley had places to go. In a year or so we will drive up there to see him sing at a Christmas program. We would gladly fly to California if necessary. We love it because we love our kids and grand kids. I am thankful they did not wait until age 50 to start having kids. We could not see them or be with them if they did.

Any comments? Write me at gsweeten@cinci.rr.com

Is The Customer Always Right?

Over the past few years I have focused most of my time and energy on the group I have come to call, Seasoned Believers, folks whose lives have been spent following God as best they know how. This group has had a lot of experience with God, Churches, Para-Church Groups and assorted trials and tribulations. They have lost their idealism without losing their faith.

It is our goal to develop materials, products, experiences and events that will minister deeply to the hearts and souls of these well experienced Christians, whether in the church or out. One way we are attempting to do that is by asking Seasoned Believers what would be helpful to them. However, I find it is difficult to get an answer.

Most choose not to answer our surveys and others just complain about past failures.

When Seasoned Believers hear me describe our ministry, they sometimes get defensive. I taught a class last year about "Hearing God's Call" and interviewed several members before teaching. I asked them, "What would you like me to cover in this class?"

I was not shocked but I was surprised by most of the responses. Many came out like this:

"Why is the Pastor doing this? Have we not done enough already?"

"I am already giving, leading a group and attending every service. Isn't that enough?"

"Gary, why are you pressuring us to do more? I have served the Lord for years and I am tired."

You get the point. But, it was not the point I was trying to make. I had something quite the opposite in mind. Can you guess what my goal was?

What would be helpful to your group of friends?

Hit the comment button or write me at gsweeten@cinci.rr.com

Now is the Time

Two Baby Boomers Trying to Serve

I made many bad decisions in my youth but one of the best decisions I made was to take a class in typing. Typing was not a popular class among boys. Everybody knows that it is a job for secretaries and all secretaries are girls.

I really do not remember why I decided to take typing. Maybe it was because Clinton Noren did and I admired him. Clinton was smart and he seemed to be ahead of the rest of us in making good decisions. Well, anyway, I did take a typing class.

The typing teacher had us type one phrase over and over. Do any of you remember what it was? As best that I recall, it went like this: Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party. (Or was it "...aid of their country"?)

Well, "Now is the time for all good believers to come to the aid of their kingdom." God has brought you to Himself and prepared you for this time in life. You are healthy, wealthy and wise, just as old Ben Franklin suggested. So what is holding you back?

I am showing photos of President Bush and Senator Clinton, two Believers who have taken their call so seriously they are serving in the highest offices of the land. If many of my friends have their way, Senator Clinton will be the first female President. I strongly affirm Christian politicians of all persuasions to get involved in public service. Hooray for them.

Maybe you are already performing at the full abilities of your combined talents, wisdom, knowledge and gifts. That must keep you very fulfilled. The only way to be "In the Zone" of perfection is to be actively involved in things that stretch you emotionally, spiritually and in using your talent/gift mix fully.

Number 10 of the top ten changes is, Ready for an Awakening. When millions of Seasoned Believers are empowered and unleashed to be fully alive and fully engaged in service, the Fourth Great Awakening will be upon us. Are you ready? I am.

Shift Number 9

The Christian and church world has shifted radically over the last forty years. This has great implications for us Seasoned Believers. People like me must take care lest these shifts cause a series of angry conflicts between and among various generations and groups.

For example, the research from Willow Creek about how well or badly their churches were performing was cause for some to attack the church, the association of churches and the ways Willow had been approaching outreach, preaching and discipleship. Many others saw it as an opportunity to learn from the research and ask God for guidance about their own approach to evangelism and growth.

One thing is for sure, there are many opportunities for tension, attacks and misunderstandings between various schools of Christian thought. The research by Barna [barnagroup@barna.org] and others is refreshingly frank about our strengths, weaknesses and areas of needed growth. I agree with Barna and Willow that we have been less than successful in training Christians how to face and overcome personal problems and how to thrive in an anti-Christian culture.

If there are over forth million born again Christians in America one would have to wonder why we are not more successful at positively affecting our culture. However, defensive attacks on each other or on the "world" will not improve our influence. We need to analyze our successes and failures and make the changes necessary to improve in the future.

I hope Seasoned Believers with experience in business, industry, scientific research, education and counseling as well as all other fields will come together to improve our churches and para-church organizations. We who have been seasoned by life and training have so many resources that can improve God's agents of ministry that we cannot pass up the opportunities God is providing.

Start thinking about the ways you can use your gifts, experiences and talents to enhance and strengthen future generations.

Number 8 of Ten Major Changes

The last major shift I mentioned was a combination of large numbers of people born and reborn into the world since the Jesus Movement. These facts, along with the radical changes in Christian life and understanding, form a foundation that has never been seen before. Just think, huge numbers of born again Christians, living for a very long time and eager to unleash their knowledge, experience, spiritual gifts and talents into the world. It boggles the mind.

At this time, there are some 125,000,000 persons in America who are over 50 years of age. If only 30% of the group, some 40,000,000 people, was filled with the Holy Spirit and eager to share God's love, truth and power with others, the impact would be phenomenal. I am thrilled to imagine forty million Spirit filled Christians serving Christ and their fellow citizens with joy and fervor.

The next shift is in education, transportation and mobility. It is one that allows us to think creatively about the kinds of services that such people could offer. If the First Reformation was unable to consider all the members as ministers it was because so few of the members could read, write or travel outside the village. However, the fact that churches are still organized as though the people in the pews are ignorant and stuck in a country village is to cripple our creativity and keep God's love from reaching most of the world.

We now live in the era of short term missions when tens of thousands of ordinary men and women have spent time over seas in ministry. As Seasoned Believers her God's call to minister many of them will find their dream fulfilled in an expanded or full time ministry.

How many of you readers have been on a short term ministry:

National:_____ Where?

International: _________ Where?

More People Living Longer

Not only are we seeing an ageing Boomer population that is used to having life adjust to them, this group is living longer and better than any generation in history. At the turn of the 19Th to 20Th Century people lived on average about 60 years. Now that has stretched to almost 80 years.

The baby boom generation is a demographic term for the population born between 1946 and 1964. Data from the 2000 U.S. Census estimates that the group that holds the “boomer” moniker is made up of at least 82,826,479 individuals. The members of this group range from 41 to 59 years old, which means this demographic behemoth, has started leaving the workforce. What will this exit mean to your organization or group or church? To answer this question, you need to look at major age shifts that alter the demographic landscape of the U.S. labor force.

The aging of the baby boom generation makes pre-seniors this decade’s fastest-growing age group, expanding nearly 50 percent in size from 2000 to 2010.

The 45-to-54 year-old group will continue to grow as well, as the larger, later end of the baby boom cohort (born between 1956 and 1965) replaces the emerging pre-seniors. The inflated sizes for the 65-and-older population over the next two decades is enormous and we can expect these two groups continue to age.

Are you ready? Is your organization ready? Will you want to retire? Can your afford to retire? Who will take the place of all the retiring Boomers? Illegal immigrants? There will be a crisis in the workforce.