Taking Every Thought Captive

I am again teaching the classic course, Rational Christian Thinking, that I first developed and wrote back in the eighties. Pastor Brad Rosenberg asked me to train his staff and Lay leaders how to live in the freedom of Christ and I agreed.

Because his wife Angie had gotten so much out of the training before she asked Brad to let everyone attend so young mothers like her could benefit from the training and rear their children free of fear and anxiety. So, we are teaching over 100 adults each Wednesday evening at Tri County Assembly of God in Fair field, Ohio north of Cincinnati.

It is a thrill to be able to "Equip the saints to DO the work of ministry" and I love training them in ways to "Renew their minds" according to the Bible. The students are eagerly lapping up the information and responding with great interactions in the class.

Over the next few posts I will write some of the basic principles of biblically renewing the mind so the readers can start getting free from cultural, social and devilish ideas. I am amazed at how many Spirit filled Christians are ensnared in old fleshly ways to thinking, feeling and acting yet believe they "Have the mind of Christ."

A mind of Christ is a peaceful mind. It is Free from worry, free from anxiety and free from letting others put them down. They could care less what others think because they know what Jesus thinks.

So, read and reflect on how Gos can set us free from the "Stinking Thinking" that keeps us in bondage.

Application of Our Faith

Some recent articles in the Journal of Philanthropy got me to thinking a lot about the need for Believers to plan their tithes and offerings carefully and yes, even, strategically. When we think about the history of our nation it is obvious that the strength of America has often been because of the direct influence of Seasoned Believers.

Ruminate for a bit over the following colleges. Harvard, Yale, Brown, Temple, etc. What comes to your mind? Was it the fact that each was founded to train an educated and committed citizenry? Did you remember that the goal was to preach the gospel, carry our missions to the people and prepare each American to read the Bible?

If these were not your thoughts, think again. Those were exactly the ideas of the men and women who founded the Ivy League Schools. And, each has left its core values behind and we can see the results in all aspects of our nation and its culture.

We need a strategy to educate, train and mobilize smart, tough, capable youth into vital places of leadership. We must carefully prepare people for work in government, the arts, education, business and industry. Take a look at the following article for insight on how others are using their experience and wisdom to take the USA in a different direction.

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The White House Project

Despite Sen. Hillary Clinton’s historic run for the presidency, women are greatly underrepresented in the U.S. political system – -a scenario the White House Project is attempting to change.

Marie Wilson, the group’s president, told a conference session about her group’s efforts to train women across the country to run for political office, calling it an example of nonpartisan political activity that is permitted under the tax code governing charities.

The United States ranks 71st in the world in the percentage of women serving in parliament (here, the House of Representatives). “It is not really a representative democracy,” said Ms. Wilson.

Ms. Wilson, who headed the Ms. Foundation for almost two decades before starting the White House Project in 1998, said many of the women who received grants from the foundation were creating innovative social programs that focused on HIV/AIDS, health care, small loans, and promoting a “living wage.”

“That’s the government in exile,” she thought, and wanted to find a way to give them more power. The White House Project, in New York, has trained 1,700 women over the past three years in the mechanics of running for office, touching on campaigning, communications, and fund raising, Ms. Wilson said.

But it has found the most effective way to persuade them to become candidates is to give them examples of other women who have made that leap — for example, by showing a documentary about Shirley Chisholm, a black congresswoman who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972. Many women are reluctant to step forward because they see so few other politicians who look like them, she said.

In that sense, she said, Senator Clinton has inspired more women to want to try politics, showing “you can get to the highest level.”

These folks are ingenious, committed and strategic. Are Believers doing as well?

Survival Skills for Wives in Ministry

Support and Training for Wives in Ministry

Over the past 30 years we have ministered to dozens of ministers and their wives on issues of burn out, church conflict, dealing with aggressive members, gossip, rearing children, etc. Leading a ministry is perhaps the most daunting career in life. Now, help is on the way.

Steve Griebling, Family Therapist and international training expert, will provide four Mondays for “Survival Skills for Wives in Ministry”. February 11, 18, 25 and March 3.

The sessions will be from 7:00-8:15 at the Life Way Counseling Center Conference Room in Blue Ash. Directions after sign up.

The enrollment is limited to ten women so each can receive personal attention.

Cost $20.00 per session.

Topics
1. How to love people without taking their problems
2. How to minister to distressed minds without losing your own
3. Boundaries as a Minister’s wife
4. Leisure, fun and be relaxation
5. Developing a support system that you can trust
6.

Each attendee will get a copy of Dr. Gary Sweeten’s DVD on the importance of becoming a “Committed Couple”. It can be used as a guide for personal growth or teaching small groups or classes. For questions, contact Steve @ 984-827 or stevegriebling@hotmail.com

Steve is a senior trainer with Sweeten Life Systems. He has taught leaders in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, China, Russia, Zimbabwe and Singapore. Steve has been a Pastor, a Clinical Counselor and head of a Counseling Program so he is well qualified to train wives how to overcome the problems of ministry.

A Workshop for Wives of Ministers

The Gathering last Saturday proved to be an exhilarating event. We have been getting positive feedback as well as corrective input for the future from many friends. Thankfully, several have made comments on the blog. (Add your own.)

==============================Steve and Gary



One idea seems to make a lost of sense to implement right now. Here it is!

Steve Griebling has agreed to teach a class exclusively for Ministers' Wives called: “Survival Skills for Wives in Ministry”. They are on Nov 5, 12, 19 26

The sessions will be from 7:00-8:15 at the Life Way Counseling Center in Blue Ash.

(Exact Directions when you sign up.)

The enrollment is limited to ten women for maximum personal attention.

Possible Topics

How to love people without taking their problems
How to minister to distressed minds without losing your own
Boundaries as a Minister’s wife
Leisure, fun and be relaxation
Developing a support system that you can trust

• The approach will be interactive, confidential, practical, fun and offer insights about ministry like you never heard before.


• Steve is a Family Therapist who served many years on the staff of a congregation in Columbus, Ohio.


• Send your queries to stevegriebling@hotmail.com =


• Each attendee will receive notes, resource lists and a DVD by Dr. Gary Sweeten on the importance of “Committed Couples”. The DVD can be used as a personal guide or for teaching small groups and Sunday school classes.


• The cost is $20.00 per night.
  
• Call Steve @ 984-8274

Reveal is Revealing: Its a Must Read Book

Willow Creek Church has done us all a great favor by researching the effectiveness of their church and found it wanting. I think we can all benefit from their risky behavior and see what will work better.

One thing that really piqued my interest was the statement that, There is a need to focus more on Seasoned Believers and not so much on New Believers.

The chart above shows that they assumed Christian growth, the blue line, would track exactly the red line, attendance. They were wrong.

What is missing? Read on and learn for we will show you.

Adult Class on Sunday

I had a great time today with the adult class at New Life Christian Church this morning. Rarely have I discussed the issues of how to disciple and release Seasoned Saints with a more appreciative and knowledgeable group.

I opened my discussion with a question. If you were given a $1,000,000 gift to set up the best and most effective school in the world, what would you want to know about your students? The answers were insightful, indicating a lot of wisdom about how to go about the needs of a student before we developed the curriculum, processes or build a building.

What would you want if we opened a "School for you and your friends?"

Write and let us know.

Seasoned Believers En-Visioning Day

People in their 40s to 80s are still vital, well educated, well experienced, and spiritually wise. They are still able to make great contributions to the world and the Kingdom of God.

In past generations, people over 50 were expected to retire, resign and relapse into a coma. That is different today. People are not just living longer they are living stronger. They have a legacy to leave future generations. How will they leave a great legacy? How will they find fellow seasoned travelers and become Unleashed to enjoy, worship and serve the Lord in their own, unique, chosen manner?

You have earned the right to soar in the Spirit with the other Eagles.

By what name do vital, wise, well educated, experienced Christians go, that is different from how the world characterizes them?

Gary Sweeten
is focusing his next initiative on
Unleashing Seasoned Believers
to love, enjoy and serve the Lord.

As a Seasoned Believer,
you are invited to an exciting day of
discovery and development of God’s vision
with Dr. Sweeten.

Sweeten Life Systems
Seasoned Believers En-Visioning Day
Saturday, October 13
Winton Woods Mill Conference Center
9:00 am – 3:00 PM

What might this new ministry vision include?

1. Lifelong Leisure Learning with Christian thought leaders.
2. Topics in basic and cutting edge areas of Interest so we can “Finish Well”
3. Simple technologies for connecting, learning, building, caring and serving, see and seize opportunities, write, speak and fun.
4. Lifelong serving with others of a like mind and call.
5. Opportunities to mentor and support young believers, including your family to leave a legacy of wisdom and wealth.
6. Opportunities for local, national, and international learning and serving.
7. The sponsorship of the Significance Center™ – equipping Christians of all ages in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe who are hungry for the skills and knowledge necessary to build God’s Kingdom where they have been planted.

This discovery day is a faith step by Sweeten Life Systems,
so we suggest a donation of $50 per person to defray the cost of facility rental and food.
You’ll have fun contributing to this vital, new ministry.
To help us plan please RSVP to Ron Peake rpeake@cinci.rr.com today

Please share this invitation with other Seasoned Believers or let us know their names, phone numbers and email address.

This event will be held at
Winton Woods Mill Golf Course Conference Center
1515 West Sharon Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45231
Take I-275 to Winton Rd-Forest Park exit, south on Winton Rd to Sharon Rd & right to Mill Conference Center

P.S. Food, materials, recreation, memory gift, photos and DVD’s will be provided to all participants. Seating Limited, register today.