Prayer is Key to Evangelism

After doing ministry in Russia for 20 years it is obvious that prayer was the most important part of bringing down the Iron Curtain. Many of the Christians I know in Russia came to faith in Christ as children without any positive witness of Christ by parents, teachers or preachers. They were led by the Holy Spirit in a supernatural and surprising manner.

With the terrible and scary events unfolding in Egypt and the Middle East we are helpless to bring change with wars, politics or personal pleading. We are faced with the stark reality of being helpless in the face of violent and evil people with a terrible belief system. It is very much like the situation we faced when Atheistic Communism ruled the USSR, China and Cuba with their atomic bombs. We were helpless then and we are helpless now.

But God is still answering prayer, so let us remember Ephesians 6:

We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We need thousands of men and women to intercede for the Middle East. This is what broke the back of Communism and it brought about real revival. Let us not lose heart but trust God to once again bring love, healing and peace to a fallen world.

Join us on September 29 at a conference on ministry to Muslims. Go to Call of Love  to register .

Gary Sweeten
 See our web page for books and materials on healing, Christian growth and ministry. Those who attend my talk at the Call of Love Conference will receive a free book worth $10.00
Sweeten Life Systems

Hope for Muslims

I am fascinated by the discussions and observations of Islam and Islamic Radicals  offered by Radio and TV Pundits. Most of the comments are devoid of any real understanding of the theology of Islam and how it is so different from Jewish and Christian Theology. Let me hasten to say that Radio and TV Pundits have almost no basic insight into Jewish and Christian Theology either.

It is frustrating enough to me to hear the pundits to share their ignorance but when it comes from people in the Federal Government it is scary and  maddening.  For the spokespersons and officials to act as though Muslims will like and support the USA because we are nice and offer them money and protection is to misunderstand them deeply.

There is an almost complete lack of insight into the culture, religion, social practices and psychological defense mechanisms of Middle Eastern Muslims.  So much of what we hear comes from people who have never studied Islamic ideas or the peculiar culture of the Middle East.

For Christians who wish to know more attend the one day experience called Dare to Love on 9:30-3:00 on September 29, 2012. Register at www.calloflove.org/oneday You can call 513.898.0700 for more information.

The event address will be kept secret for security reasons until you receive your tickets.

The focus will be primarily on understanding Muslims so we can present Jesus Christ to them in a way that avoids getting stuck in our own world view and prejudices. I am speaking on how to see the roots of the Islamic practice of Jihad or which leads to suicide.

Muslims are increasingly coming to Christ, abandoning Islam and its deadly practices. You will hear more about how to share the good news effectively on September 29. I worked closely with Muslims in Asia for three years and found them open to the gospel if presented in love and respect. 

Islam Theology is a Catch 22, no-win situation for truly committed Muslims. Through Christ they will find freedom, eternal life and security for today and forever. My message will also show you how to enjoy eternal liberation from condemnation, anxiety and fear.

All who attend my workshop will receive a coupon for a free book of basic theology that allows you to better understand Christianity as well as Islam. It is The Healing Release of the Holy Spirit.

Register today and start praying for the Muslims who need Christ and His peace.

Gary Sweeten
sweetenlife.com

PS I spent a week doing ministry to the First Responders at Ground Zero. I saw first hand what happens when Muslims and others have no hope for eternal life.

Vacation in Lovely Wisconsin

Our son Timothy and his wife Shelley took pity on Karen and me by donating some of their time share points with us so we could get away from the stress of ministry forvavfew days. We are enjoying our time at a pretty little town Lake Geneva just across the line from Illinois.

Thank you Tim and Shelley for your generous gift. The place we are staying is truly wonderful and relaxing. Plus, I was able to play some golf.

From Secular Psychology to Christian Psychology

The care and cure of souls has been the primary calling of Ministers for thousands of years. Yet, ever since Freud crashed our party Christians have assumed that psychology was always against Christian spirituality.  In fact, some people who call themselves Ministers and Counselors insist that by using psychological insights we are defying the Bible.

the people who research and think about how the brain and soul operate in health and sickness are imperfect people with imperfect theologies. However, some of their insights and ideas are very helpful to those of us who know and serve Christ.

For example, the most popular brand of psychology today is probably Cognitive Behavior Therapy. One of the most popular and outrageous of  CBT is Albert Ellis. Dr. Ellis is shows great insight about how the brain works to impact feelings but he is at a complete loss to understand God. Ellis and others have developed several ways to help people with emotional problems look at their thinking process and understand how to change from Stinking Thinking to Rational Thinking. 

Despite the fact that his own out of control anger and bitterness at God and religion hampers his effectiveness, we who love God can borrow the insights he developed with the assistance of using God's truth. All truth is God's truth so the understanding of the atheist must have come from God if his facts are correct. he can deny that God rules the universe but we know differently.

The following chart as well as the one I posted yesterday borrows the ideas from CBT and applies their factual processes to Christians by applying the Bible instead of secular humanist ideas. Good theology brings health and healing but bad theology brings dysfunction and behavioral sickness including depression and anxiety. Take a look at my second chart on thinking with good, sound theology!

A Conflict of Law and Human Nature

Most people know that a life of perfection is impossible.  Christians think we “should” be living in accord with the Law but just cannot do it.  “Memories of Eden” are deep in our souls and drive us to attempt perfection. The Memory of a Lost Identity leads to Shame as we wander outside the Garden.

Taking every thought captive to the mind of Christ!

God’s Options	Human Options
1. God centered intimacy Jo 14, 15; Gal 4, 5, 6; Eph 1,2	a. Human centered obedience Gal 5:2-15
2. Punishment required Awe/fear of God Want to restore relationship Recognizes depravity Confesses guilt Repents Accepts forgiveness Thanks for restored relationship	b. Punishment required Fear for self Wants to lower penalty Self-condemnation Self-rejection Damages-self esteem Inferiority/Insecurity Hides from self & others
Humility-Perfect in weakness	c. Loss of Identity, Legalism, Works, Self -Pity, Anger
Celebrates intimacy with God Empathy for others’ sins Prays for others	d. Self Justifies Compares self with others Anger & bitterness
Relationships grow Fruit of the Spirit Affirms others Appreciates others Serves Trusts God for good	e. Relationships suffer Depressive withdrawal Lashes out Closest people suffer Fears others No trust in God
Cycle of Growth Freedom Confidence Joy Power	f. Cycle of Pain New resolutions Represses feelings Shame grows Anxiety & Compulsions
God Centered Lifestyle Joy Confidence Peace Godliness Good relationships Health Maturity (Gal 5:22 ff)	g. Human Centered Lifestyle Anxiety Negative thinking Pessimism Low Self Esteem Shame Relational problems Defensiveness (Gal 5:19-21)
Life Abundant; soul prospers	h. Death of the soul What profit if we gain the world and lose our soul?

This chart shows what happens when we substitute secular humanist philosophy for good theology. We can see the importance of staying focused on our new identity in Christ and how to think like a new person as opposed to thinking like the old person who has died.

A Grace or Judgmental System of Thinking

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. II Corinthians 7:10

For years I wondered about the distinction between godly and worldly sorrow. The difference seemed important. One view brings life without regret while the other leads to death. One way allows us to fail without shame. The other brings destruction. This is not talking about the end of life but the destruction of emotional life through depression, anxiety, fear and defensiveness. After study and reflection I offer some thoughts about these two kinds of sorrow. St. Paul is speaking to the people to whom he had written earlier challenging them to consider what they had been doing.  In this letter he affirms them for seeing his point and turning back to their former ways.  

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. II Corinthians 7:10

Godly Sorrow	Worldly Sorrow
1. Convicts us of our spiritual and moral situation. We face “Total Depravity” an inability to personally change our spiritual condition.	a. Believes we can contribute to our spiritual goodness; by works, self-motivation and spiritual exercises deserve or earn God’s love. By Bible study, church, good deeds, prayers and suffering we deserve God’s favor.
2. Admits we deserve punishment for sins but thankful Jesus paid our debt.	b. Deserve God’s punishment for Guilt & punish self to lessen it.
3. Confesses inability to repay God for Sin, insensitivity, callousness, bad behavior hidden and open	c. Try to repay God with confession, works, feeling sorry, tears and acts of contrition, service and suffering.
4.  Thankful for grace, mercy & forgiveness that protects us from justice.  We do not justify selves to God or others.	d. Justice is demanded so we justify ourselves to self and others as well as to God.  Try to defend self and may offend others.
5.  We get more than we deserve.  He increases gifts, blessings, health, peace and abundant life without regrets.	e. Fails to recognize grace; fear, rejection, punishment and bad luck reign. Is angry but fears it is sinful.
6. God renews healing relationship with God and humanity.	f. Seeks to remove the penalty of Sin, Shame and Guilt.
7. Glorious recognition of God’s favor.	g. Abject pain and depression.

 Is your mind filled with godly ideas of grace and mercy or of fleshly ideas that bring condemnation and pain? A major portion of Renewing the Christian mind is the ability to choose grace and mercy rather than judgment and condemnation. You can use the boxes below to analyze your thought processes.

Grace and Mercy	Judgment and Condemnation

Middle Eastern Ministries

Anyone who has followed the news in the Middle East knows how troubled and tragic it has been for the people. Wars and rumors of wars have left people of all kinds traumatized, fearful and anxious. This is especially true for the Christians who are a tiny minority among the majority of Muslims.

I was blessed this morning to meet with two young sisters who grew up in a Christian home in Beirut, Lebanon. Both were called into ministries of evangelism, outreach and compassion. Each is using her gifts and passion to minister to numerous Muslims and Christians.

One of the sisters, Salam, lives here in the Cincinnati area and heads with her husband a ministry of teaching Christian leaders and congregations how to reach out in love to Muslims in America. Their ministry is Call To Love @ 513.898.0700 and www.calloflove.org I am speaking at their September 29, Dare To Love Seminar and hope you will be there to hear about this unique organization. 

The other sister is Nada who heads a different kind of ministry in Beirut. She has a Master's Degree in Counseling and uses her talents, education and gifts to minister in love and healing to women suffering from depression and family trauma. Her ministry is called I Am A Woman Center and 95% of their clients are Muslims.

I was able to give Nada a lot of my materials for training Lay Helpers how to minister more effectively to these hurting women. Please pray for her as she works to develop more Helpers to join her in the outreach to battered women.

Pray for me as I continue to develop high quality materials for families and disabled children here in the USA and around the world. Go to the Sweeten Life web for my books and materials.

Prevention is Better Than...

Our western world is obsessed with the Medical Sickness Model. The focus of almost all talk about Health is not health but sickness. President Obama pushed through a bill on what he called health care but it was no health care it is all about paying for sickness.

I remember reading some research on this topic many years ago as a student. The author, who is long forgotten, said that 98 cents of every health care dollar was spent on fixing sickness not preventing sickness or more importantly being healthier. Only 2 cents of every dollar spent goes to being healthy.

I have been trying to teach about healthy prevention and train health care coaches for a long time. It has been an uphill battle but a lot more people are discussing it today than in the past. My approach to promoting health has arisen from my training as a Therapist and Teacher.

While meeting with individuals and couples who were struggling in marriage, family life, parenting and work or church, I saw the same kinds of issues crop up over and over again. This led me to conclude that a well developed training program that targeted these common issues would keep people from falling off the cliff of conflict, misunderstanding and family dissolution.

The most common problems that bring people to a Counselor are Depression and Anxiety. The root of these Mood Disorders is the ways people react to things that happen in the world. Most Counselors and Psychologists choose to treat these problems with Cognitive Therapy and possibly Medication.

It occurred to me that by teaching people how to think more reasonably and rationally in the first place, they might be able to avoid getting depressed and anxious. This is Prevention of a common problem. The Medical Model says little about prevention and when it does the discussion is mostly theory with no skill practice and not peer support, the two things that make prevention real and practical.

Our materials are practical. Go to the Sweeten Life web and look at the bookstore to find one that would help you prevent a bigger problem down the road. I suggest you start with Power Christian Thinking.

If you do not prevent the depression that will surely arise from Stinking Thinking, you can always find a good Counselor to help you dig out of the hole you have dug.