Peacemaking after the Election

Many people are shaken by the election of Trump. We were all stunned and surprised by it because the polls said that Hillary was going to win by a landslide.

Many Christians and their leaders were shocked and shared their emotions publicly. I posted several articles on my blog and Facebook page and I got hundreds of hits and comments. They are split about 50% for Trump and 50% for Hillary. Some were very critical of Trump and others were critical of Hillary. So, we have a divided country in terms of politics.

Who is correct?

I am not sure of anything as a result of the election. I look a the people who voted more for Trump than they had for Romney and see that Hillary received fewer votes from women than Obama did! 

As a Christian and citizen I attempt to support candidates of good character who promise policies close to my values. That is not easy. My heart goes out to my friends and fellow Christians who voted for Hillary and are sorely disappointed.

I do not share their fears that we live in a more dangerous world but I understand their anxiety.  Trump acted so differently than any other candidate in my lifetime. He intentionally insulted individuals and groups to get the approval of certain groups whose votes he needed to win. 

We do not know how he will act. It is too early to predict. But his past reactive and unpredictable behavior certainly leads many to worry about him.

Other friends think Mrs. Clinton is a terrible leader. They dislike the ways she attacked the women her husband had affairs with and she was caught in several compromising behaviors with an insecure email system. The underground videos of her surrogates setting up violent attacks at Trump rallies plus the way she promotes abortion were also keys to fueling the fires against her. 

At this point all the major candidates have offered statements of forgiveness and pledges to work together for the nation. This is a good start to future harmony but we have much work to do. 

Can my counseling and equipping experience be useful to those that want to be blessed as Peacemakers?  I am praying about that right now. Will you pray with me?

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I Voted for the Right Person this Time

Blind Men and the Elephant – A Poem by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) version of Blind Men and the Elephant:

It was six men of Indostan,
To learning much inclined, 
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind), 
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind. 

The First approach'd the Elephant, 
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, 
At once began to bawl: 
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!" 

The Second, feeling of the tusk, 
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? 
To me 'tis mighty clear, 
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!" 

The Third approach'd the animal, 
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, 
Thus boldly up and spake: 
"I see," -quoth he- "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!" 

The Fourth reached out an eager hand, 
And felt about the knee: 
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," -quoth he,- 
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant 
Is very like a tree!" 

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, 
Said- "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; 
Deny the fact who can, 
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!" 

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope, 
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope, 
"I see," -quoth he,- "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!" 
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long, 
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong, 
Though each was partly in the right, 
And all were in the wrong! 

MORAL, 

So, oft in theologic wars 
The disputants, I ween, 
Rail on in utter ignorance 
Of what each other mean; 
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

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The Future Under Trump

                   We need a Moses & God at this point in time.

Many of our friends overseas are worried, sad, concerned, upset and overwhelmed with the election of Donald Trump. I am deeply touched by the fact that we have so many friends and Christian colleagues around the world.

As I read their posts on Facebook, Twitter, and eMails I am left with one query. "What is it about Mr. Trump that causes such concern?"

In America, we are used to rocky, angry elections.  We grew up in a strong Democrat family with deep union ties. One of my worst whippings came after I walked across a union strike line at age 10 or so.

Nothing caused more displays of anger and strong language than an election. My dad never saw a Republican he thought was a Christian. How could such a reprobate be born again. And this was from a man who taught me about Grace and Mercy.

Prostitutes could be saved, addicts could be saved. Thieves could be saved. But Republicans? The jury was out on that question.

So, political arguments that get rough and hard nosed are nothing new to me. It is hard for me to join in the national practice of resist attacking those with whom I disagree. Both the Left and Right attacked the other side and said awful things about each other. Attacks that are contrary to my biblical beliefs about "Speaking the truth in love".

I often failed by what I thought and sometimes enjoyed saying things that were wrong. Despite my family history of politics as a blood sport, my sins were not my dad's fault but solely mine.

When Wikileaks and secret tapes revealed things the candidates said or wrote I was often convicted of my own faults. I was often happy that I was not taped when I went on one of my rants or told terrible jokes 20 years ago. In fact, such a prospect leaves me in a cold sweat.

Despite such a rough election season, we are seeing the former enemies come together with statements of mutual support and future cooperation. The stock market is soaring because investors believe the Trump Administration will be great for business and industry.

The balance of power from Left to Right is transferring at a  steady rate with peace and cooperation. America shall make it from one party to another without violence or riots. We cannot know the future but we trust God for that not politicians.

Keep us in prayer. The USA has a great need for wisdom and spiritual guidance. Whomever won the election would need God's daily, moment by moment presence to oversee our national response to the crises in the Middle East, Russia, Asia, and our inner cities.

Gary Sweeten

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Christian Voters

What have I learned, if anything, from this election? I learned that I needed to re-learn some basic truths.

1. The Kingdom of God will not come on Air Force I. It will not come from politicians and legislators. No one is pure or operates on biblical ideals. We are not electing a Pope.

2. The Devil's Kingdom of death, greed, corruption, dictatorial policies and police, slavery, can arrive from politics, and legislators, and judges.

3. Voting is just one important step in the incremental process of protecting Christian values of life, liberty, freedom of speech, freedom or religion and freedom of meetings.

4. Many Christians lost the ability to preach, read scripture, pray, meet, rear children, help the poor, care for the sick, etc because they backed evil leaders.

5. Evil people seek to control good people. We can elect evil people.

6. Pray for freedom. Fight daily for the freedom of all people as it says in the US Constitution.

7. Donate to organizations that love and promote freedom.

Gary Sweeten 

The bones of innocent men, women and children in Cambodia after Pol Pot's reign.

Prayer for Peace at Election Time

Don’t be anxious about anything but with prayers and intercessions let your needs be known to God with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:

Listening to God's Leading is Critically Important

A Prayer for Courage and Serenity

Rev Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity to accept

The things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time:

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace:

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it:

Trusting that you will make all things right

If I surrender to your will:

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with you in the next

Distributed by Dr. Gary Sweeten

Sweeten Life Systems

P.O. Box 498455

Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

info@sweetenlife.com

www.sweetenlife.com

A Terrific Sermon Series

                       My Tools or the Tools of Christ?

My wife and I love the services at Southbrook Christian Church. The music is contemporary and infused with the Holy Spirit. It touches me every time I am there and I am an old, wizened Believer with worship experiences on several continents.

The key speaker is Charlie McMahan whose stories and gracious approach is liberating to people of every era and age. The sermon series is on grace versus self sacrifice. Today, November 6, was a great start. If you need grace or sick and tired of inserting your own sacrifices for the work of Christ, watch or listen.

My stuff is not chicken liver so go ahead and spend a couple of bucks to get rid of your stinking works sacrifice. Here it is!

Ideas About Growth and Outreach

Every organization that wants to remain strong must grow internally and externally. There is a journey inward to strengthen the people, the systems, communication, etc.

As we grow internally, there must also be a push to grow in impact those persons outside the organization. Both are critical to the church.

Some are very good at building community inside the church but the fact that  people inside are so close it is hard for anyone new to "break into the old system". However, the churches that want to thrive must focus some of its time and energy on those outside the community.

If you are in a church that needs and wants to reach out to new people, take this personal check list to assess your knowledge and interests. If you and a small group of friends are interested, have everyone take it and discuss the choices of everyone individually and see if the Holy Spirit nudges you to do something different. 

In my Experience, who is most likely to welcome discussing Christianity;

Persons reared in church but lapsed ______

An atheist ___ 

Prodigal children____ 

A person in crisis____

Never heard___

 Another faith___ 

A friend___ 

A relative___

In my experience, the most effective way to reach others is:

Revival Meetings___ 

Funerals___ 

Marches against sin___ 

Help poor___

Child care___ 

Musicals___ 

Children and youth programs___

Programs for addicts, depressed, anxious, etc. ___

Interesting seminars on marriage, parenting, business, etc. ___

In my experience, the greatest barriers to faith are:

Theological___ 

Sinful Preachers, Priests___ 

Past hurts at church__

Past hurts by parents______ 

Sin/Guilt___

 Ignorance___ 

Science ___

All religions are the same___ 

Bible errors___ 

Patriarchy___

What Writer, Pastor, Friend Has the Best Ideas about Outreach?

_______________________________________________________ 


About Inreach/Discipleship? _______________________________________________________

What churches do you nominate as the best/most successful in reaching out?



Write your insights and ideas on the letters section. We want to hear from you. 

You can also get my cleverly named book to help you. (Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty!)