From Addiction to Addition

When we first began to travel in Russia I did some research about the people, their health and their faith. I discovered that the people had been treated very badly by the Socialists in the USSR and many people lost their parents, grandparents and children when the Bolsheviks terrorized them and peresecuted them because they were successful.

Yes, it was the intentional plan of the Soviet Socialist Republic to destroy the Middle Class and Upper Class. Stalin and his henchmen hated any person or family that excelled and did better economically than others. Even today, the Socialists in Russia hate the idea of the Bell Shaped Curve that describes reality in terms of statistical distributions.

Some people are smart and some are dumb but most are average. Some people are extremely talented and some have no talent but most have a few talents. Some people have a lot of energy and some people have very little energy but most have an average amount of energy.

Socialists attempt to destroy the statistical  model that predicts such things. They deny that these statistics are accurate and they insist that the notion that some people are smarter, harder working and more talented is unfair so they pass laws making these statistical truths illegal.

Stalin and his Socialist buddies passed laws making it illegal to own farm machinery taht allowe dthe owners to plow more acreage, cut wood faster, or reap crops more efficiently. Farmers who prospered were taxed highly and had their machinery taken away from them. They were called, Kulaks in Ukraine and were villified by the Federal Government. In fact, many were burned out, killed and scattered to the four winds.

In Russia today we see the Federal Government suppressing the high producers. They are taxing and suppressing any group that received support from overseas. That includes churches and ministries.

Pray for the Christians in Russia. Only God can give them relief. Many of the most effective ministries started out as Counseling and teaching the families of alcohol and drug Addicts. Through those Recovery Groups thousands of people have come to Christ. Numerous families have been healed and restored. Former Addicts have become Pastors and Priests.

Revival is happening but the world, the flesh and the devil are attacking hard.

 PRAY for:

Galina, Irinia, Anya, Anatoly, Yvgenia, Marina, Paul, Michael, Anna, and all others! Pray for prosperity and protection.

Russian Laws Supressing Non-Profits

Pray for our Christian friends in Russia. We cannot supoport any of them because the new law says we have to register as a foreign agent to help them out. However, we can pray. That is not restricted.

One of our Russian friends came to faith in Christ at age 10. Prayers of western Christians broke through the barriers of Communist atheism and the Holy Spirit miraculously convicted her of the need for salvation.

Pray. Write me off line if you want names and particulars. Christians at worship!

How can we get People to Change?

How Do We Change? Here is a shocker. All change is SELF-CHANGE!!!

One of the most common questions we get at our workshops and seminars is from Pastors, Counselors, Coaches and Consultants. It is the same question:

How do I motivate people to change? This is a tricky question, but a good question. Hidden beneath this question is another statement: (How do I get them to do what I want them to do? Pastors, Coaches, Counselors and Consultants do not just want people to chamnge but to change like I want them to change.)

Maybe I need to tell you some things that will not work to motivate people to change in the direction we want. In fact, the things I am listing below will  more than likely motivate people to do the opposite of what we want them to do.

(The guy below is the poster child for how not to motivate change. He has tried to witness to Muslims by burning a Koran!)

1. Do not preach at people as though they were stupid, children or ignorant. Jesus said, "Do  not be like the Gentile Pagans and lord it over your people." In other words do not stand above them and cut them down to size.

2. Do not threaten people. Threats can leave people with anxiety and anxiety causes them to resist positive changes. In my experience, it causes people to do negative things, usually different from what we want.

3. Do not insult them. Name calling and shaming or addinjg guilt to them will likely boomerang.

4. Do not be impatient. getting ahead of the Lord's conviction will usually not work.

5. Do not call them to action before they are ready to change. Do not get ahead of their readinesss to change.

Add you own insights to this list. Who would you nominate as a falure to motivate good works?

See our bookstore at the sweetenlife.com web page has our book, Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty, which is a manual for those who want to influence others to change.

Gary Sweeten

Publishing and Prophesy

Busy! That has been my life so far in 2012. In fact, I have not even had enough time to play golf. That, my friends, is too busy. Since January of this year I have written and re-written four books, a syllabus for each one and posted them on Randy Clark's online classroom called Global Awkening. Randy has a powerful international ministry of healing and training. However, he, like the Apostle Paul, heard God say, "Slow down on that travel business and set up a school to 'Equip God's people to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free". There are, at this time, three tracks. 1. Physical Healing: Randy teaching 2. Inner Healing or Soul Care. Gary Sweeten teaching 3. I ritual Warfare: unsure Ho is teaching My track has four courses with eight weeks in each. My four tracks are: A. Theology of persons and how to encourage Seekers to Change with God's support. B. Power Christian Thinking-How to integrate the Bible and brain science to take every thought to the mind of Christ. C. Breaking Free to be everything God has for us D. How to be Me in My Family Tree Healing the past as I move forward These books and videos are on line and the sweetenlife.com for a small fee. They are written at a fairly advanced level so they may be too advanced for many of our readers.

How Parents of A Hurting Child Feel

Our ministry to families with a member who has a special need is growing. However, we have a long way to go. NAMI, an organization for families with members who have issues of mental and emotional health, have been around for a long time providing support, encouragement and wisdom for parents and care givers. I am publishing a Parent's Rant to let us get a taste of the frustration many parents chronically feel.

My son and I talked about the studio apartments...he came to me...Yeah!!!   He is a little reluctant concerning “unnamed” for some reason but my friend suggested “unnamed” in Sunnyvale so we are off to check into that sometime during the next week or so plus we'll check into “unnamed “and get his name on the years and years and years long waiting list. 

All of this scrambling around that we do.  We are all frantically searching for that one small straw that will give our loved ones just a glimmer of hope!  Trouble is, the wheat field has been through a storm!

First, we are told, "Oh just get help for your loved one!"  Then "oh, you should be doing this and that, and it's your fault that your loved one is as ill as he or she is!"  The we are told, "Well, if your loved one is turned away from services it's because you are taking care of him or her!"  "Put them out on the streets!"

Then help finally comes, 'Why didn't you get help earlier." we are told!  Enablers, everyone cries!

Then, our loved ones are put through programs while in rehabilitation and that's great.  We begin to feel some hope at this point and are so grateful for the care received!  Oh but they've started smoking.

Finally, moving day!  At first, we can't believe it!  One bathroom for 9 people!  Then we see 3 people sharing a room....$725!!!

Two filthy mattresses on a floor....but the rent is only $700.00...

Another home, "Why do you padlock the washing machine?" I ask and the kitchen is locked and all of the clients stay to their rooms!

Then, we are finally broken.  Our loved ones are herded like sheep.  If we complain, they are blacklisted from other homes.  If we don't complain, we have to watch them live in squalor.

Homes smelling of urine on hot days.  Rampant theft!  Complaints from neighbors!   Police calls, arguments and drug use!

Our loved ones though did a great job going through the programs needed at “unnamed”and “unnamed”!  I'm so proud of them! 

Once in a while, some of the fortunate clients with courage, perseverance and  let's face it at that point feeling  more able and just screaming inside for something more; those people go on to being able to manage their own lives a little better.  With tremendous support, they are able to go forward....but, Most will still need some form of low income housing...a small bathroom, kitchenette...their own space!

And once again, we find ourselves going from door to door..."Didn't he apply for section 8." they ask?

yes, but his number is low and another 20 years away and he keeps moving and we have to update all the records each time that he moves!

Oh well, that's my rant,

The lesson here is, "Greet care givers with understanding and compassion not judgment and labels."

Medicate Mommy and Granny?

Harvard says Medication Use Grows

Medicaid analysis reveals trends in depression care

An analysis of Florida health insurance data revealed trends in the delivery of depression care. Overall spending increased mainly because of a marked rise in spending on drugs, especially — in a surprise — because of spending on antipsychotics.

Why are we drugging Mommy and Granny with anti psychotics?   There is evidence that older people are increasingly struggling with depression. That, in itself, is a mystery because we are all living better today than ever before. I am convinced that it comes down to Stinking Thinking or Pessimism among the older people.

Here is the good news, we can impact our loved ones by the ways we think and feel. If we are optimistic, hopeful, loving and faithful the people around us are likely to feel more positive. Yep, isn't that a blast?

If you want to help others, just help yourself.

Positive, Bible believing, worshipful, caring churches are almost guaranteed to help people feel happier and healthier. So, why are Doctors feeding the elderly anti-psychotics. Those very powerful drugs are designed not for depression at all but for psychosis like schizophrenia. 

Look at the headlines.  More money is being spent on treating depression but it is the wrong treatment. These drugs have tremendously bad side effects. Why?

Several years ago a friend called me to inquire if our Life Way Counseling Center had a Medical Doctor Psychiatrist on the staff.  His mom was suffering from depression and the drugs were killing her. We have a Psychiatrist and I suggested that he bring his mom in to see our Doctor.

Our Doctor took her off all those bad drugs and replaced them with appropriate medications. She almost immediately got better. If you have a parent or loved one being treated for depression, check the medication.

See my web for more help.

Gary Sweeten

Nostalgic Memories

I remember the first time I heard the phrase, "My country, right or wrong." I was in college and one of  my classmates was telling s why he was going to attend West Point. I admired his grit and his dedication but I was not sure about that phrase about supporting America if it was right or wrong.

In my youth I was pretty cocky. Back then I thought I was pretty smart and I tended to judge the actions of politicians and educators and preachers and public servants as inferior to me. I had a personality that was, "Often wrong but never in doubt."

My personality has not changed much but my attitude has. I am much more gracious toward others in leadership.  My increase in graciousness has come as a result of several things.

1. I am older and age tends to knock off some of the rougher edges of one's personality.
2. My theology has changed. When I was younger I thought sin and human weaknesses were rather shallow things that could be easily overcome. A person could just choose how to ,live and do it. The Nike saying fit me fine: "Just do it!" My Grandmother Taylor had given me a very popular book by Sheldon to read and it influenced me greatly. It was called, In His Steps and the constant drumbeat of focus was to ask "What would Jesus do" and simply do it. Now I see sin, weaknesses and humanity as a  tangled web of deep seated, unconscious drives and weaknesses which require God's grace, mercy and power to overcome.
3. My experiences have taught me that decisions are tough  and leadership is very difficult. Mistakes are easy to make and understanding how to read the future impossible.The only law that is predictable is "The Law of Unpredictable Outcomes and The Law of Unintended Consequences".
4. I no longer desire to straighten everybody out as I once did.
5. God is in control

Having said all that, I am much more appreciative of the history of America. I see how amazingly wise were the founders. Despite their human weaknesses and lack of seeing the future they built a great foundation for us to live free and prosper.

God has blessed America. I hope the politicians who think they know better than the founders will grow in wisdom and grace as much as I and lay down their ideas about destroying the founding ideals.

May God bless us on this July 4, 2012