Inner Healing

Inner Healing that Impacts Physical Healing

In 1972 I met an Episcopal Priest from Atlanta who taught about Inner Healing or Prayer Therapy. I had a Master's Degree in Counseling and was working on a Doctorate but had never heard these terms before. Indeed, they are missing from all secular humanist dictionaries. However, they are essential to Christian Care and Counsel. Any Christian that reads James 5 can attest to the fact that inner healing and physical healing are intertwined.

I was very eager to learn more about Inner Healing. It is what the church has traditionally called Soul Care. For  hundreds of years Soul Care was the focus of the church. Physicians focused on healing the body but Christians healed the soul. All that changed with Freud, a Physician that had a passion was healing the inner person. Freud and his followers, however, were poorly prepared to deal with the primary causes of inner pain heart problems, but they did discover that many physical issues were the result of past trauma and loss such as sexual abuse and parental deaths.

Childhood trauma that is left unhealed will often show us as hysterical symptoms in the body. I remember a teenage girl that suffered from hysterical blindness when she was reminded of a trauma as a baby. She had no physical reason for her inability to see but she was blind. By paying attention to her childhood wounds she recovered.

I was counseling a Vietnam Vet who was a drug addict. When we met it was obvious that his addiction was the result of deep depression. Finally, one day we had a conversation like the one I wrote below.

Joe: "Do you believe killing in a war is wrong?
Gary: "My opinion is not very important. It is what you believe that is important."
Joe: "The Chaplain said it was OK."
Gary: "What do you think?"
Joe: "I think killing is wrong even in war."
Gary: "But you had to kill people in the war."
Joe: "Yes."
Gary: "Have you asked for forgiveness?"
Joe: "No. I tried but they said it was not wrong and refused to let me."
Gary: "Would you like to confess now?'
Joe: "Yes, but not out loud. Just to God."
Gary: "Sure. When you are finished say amen and I will pray.'
Joe: Silent for a few minutes. Than, "Amen".
Gary: "On the authority of the Bible that says if anyone confesses his sins God will forgive them, I declare you forgiven in the Name of Jesus."

After that, Joe never returned to see me and he quit drinking and drugs. Ten years later his wife called and said he attempted suicide. I met with him and we went more deeply into his heart aches. His new depression lifted and he went back to church and became emotionally balanced.

If you want to know more about inner healing, get my PDF eBook, Breaking Free. Click the link below.


Gary Sweeten
Sweeten Life Systems, INC
A 501c3 not for profit ministry

Thinking and Self- Improvement

In a French study published last year in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, cyclists raced against a virtual-reality avatar of their previous best performance. When the avatar was secretly sped up by 2%, the cyclists managed to go 2% faster, but when the avatars accelerated by 5%, the benefits disappeared. The mind can deliver incremental gains, not quantum leaps.

Perhaps the most powerful and widely applicable technique for changing how your brain interprets incoming signals is to train yourself with motivational self-talk. 

Whether you’re conscious of it or not, you have an internal monologue running through your head during difficult tasks, and it has a measurable impact on how effortful you perceive those tasks to be. It is possible to channel that monologue in productive ways.

Many athletes consider such techniques a little hokey. My college track teammates and I laughed our way through the mandatory self-talk training we received from a well-meaning sports psychologist, figuring that if we honed our muscles and our maximum oxygen uptake sufficiently, we wouldn’t need to worry about such flimflammery.

The Bible is way ahead of our scientists in this regard and we at Sweeten Life Systems has written and taught what the Bible says for almost 40 years. If you want to know how to alter your thinking according to the Bible, go to our web site and buy the eBook Power Christian Thinking. 

Christian Churches Can be Healing Communities

In a 1969 seminar for Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers I met a famous Psychologist. He said that early church groups were the most powerful therapeutic communities that the world had ever seen. He was an agnostic! He went on to tell how 2000 years ago life was mean, drunken, adulterers,  and violent. However, when people became Christians they entered groups of people  that helped them develop emotionally, relationally and spiritually. Most became peaceful and loving.

 I had a Master's and was working on a Doctorate in Counseling and had never heard anyone say was shocked and overcome with conviction by the Holy Spirit to find out how they did it. I was dedicated to DO IT AGAIN!

discovered when I set out to investigate how the early church in its house group structure managed to impact believers so powerfully.
1. They believed and practiced the presence of the Holy Spirit.

2. That had daily fellowship, study, prayers, and worship.

3. They preached and taught about confession and forgiveness. Each new member was taken through a series of examinations, open confessions before the church, and open forgiveness. 

4. They anointed people with oil and prayed for healing.

5. They practiced helping each other in sickness and work.

6. They rescued unwanted babies that were left outside to die. 

7. They lived near each other and were together often in small groups.

Psalm 32 

¹ Blessed is the one
   whose transgressions are forgiven,
  whose sins are covered.
² Blessed is the one
   whose sin the LORD does not count against them
   and in whose spirit is no deceit.

 ³ When I kept silent,
   my bones wasted away
   through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night
   your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
   as in the heat of summer.

 ⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
   and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
   my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave
   the guilt of my sin.

 ⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
   while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
   will not reach them.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
   you will protect me from trouble
   and surround me with songs of deliverance.

 ⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
   I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
   which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
   or they will not come to you.

¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
   but the LORD’s unfailing love
   surrounds the one who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
             sing, all you who are upright in heart! 

Thank You for Giving to the Lord

                                                 Ellen, Martha Chrouch Pollock, and Larry by Judy Haag

When we look back over our lives in Christ, there are many people who blessed us and poured life, love, and the gospel into our lives. Few people have done more to impact people to live an abundant life that Larry and Ellen Chrouch. Larry "graduated" from his earthly home to the heavenly home recently. Many of us from Cincinnati to Oslo and China are are still rehearsing the way God used him  to bless us.

A number of us gathered Friday at the Village Church at The Shell Point Retirement Community in Florida to celebrate the life of Larry and honor his memory with his wife Ellen, and daughters Laura and Martha, plus families.  The Chrouch's were married in 1956 and lived in love for 62 years.

The service was led by Rev. Don Pullen who read notes from family members that spoke of Larry's great generosity, grace, and encouragement.  Notes from grandchildren were beautifully written and sent with blunt humor and warm remembrances.

The music was symbolic of Larry's life. Amazing Grace, and It is Well with my Soul as a congregation and the powerful My Tribute: To God be the Glory by Jean Hawkins.  He also showed a short video and written of testimonies sent in by people who had been impacted by Larry.

A long time friend, prayer partner, and fishing buddy, Bill Koontz, delivered a well crafted and touching tribute of heartfelt admiration and love. He intertwined a list of Larry's family, ministry and business accomplishments with testimonies from people that had been blessed mightily by the Chrouch generosity, spiritual power and personal support.

Ron Rand and I as well as Bill Koontz represented the staff of College Hill Presbyterian Church where Larry and Ellen spent many years serving the Lord. Laurie Cochrane represented the Vineyard Church, NW where they also volunteered.

In the six decades I have known Christ, there have been many outstanding examples of men and women whose Kingdom impact has been great.  I have know famous preachers, highly regarded pastors, well-known musicians, wealthy donors, and TV, Radio and authors. Few, if any, have been more impactful in the Kingdom of God than Larry Chrouch,

Ray Boltz sang a song just made for people like Larry. It has become a favorite of many of us who are in ministry because it says so beautifully what we want to say about the people that are called to walk with us in spreading the good news.    It is called Thank You for Giving to the Lord.

The Passing of A Gifted Leader

It is my sad responsibility to announce that one of the most important persons in my life and ministry just passed away. Larry and Ellen Chrouch were deeply engaged in our lives back in the 70's when the Holy Spirit guided us to start a very radically innovative way. I had joined the staff team at College Hill in 1973.

I resigned in 1976 when the Elders in charge of my ministry in Christian Education decided I would no longer be allowed to train parents, families, and Educators in Christian Education and Bible study how to integrate interpersonal skills, prayer, and group dynamics. I was unwilling to do that and was offered a position as Dean of Students at Gordon Conwell Seminary. 

The entire Elder group called me to set up another ministry we called Discipleship and it focused on Ephesians 4:11 to Equip the saints to Do ministry." Our new Discipleship Committee consisted of Larry and Ellen, Maurie and Lorraine Loomans, Marie Martin, Ken Shull, Tom Osborn, Bill and Edith Barr, and the Sweetens.

We met shared, prayed, and equipped people to run family life, small groups, the Healing Ministry, etc. After some time, we heard the Lord tell us to establish an "Equipping Center" to train Lay Helpers to "Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free." IS 61. It was called, "The Teleios Center". 

Larry and I worked very closely together to pray, hear God, and design the Center. Larry integrated three or four of the key gifts that were critical to Teleios. The gifts of:

1. Administration

2. Leadership

3. Hearing God speak

4. Healing

5. Teaching

6. Humor

7. Generosity 

Over the next 10 years we heard God tell us what to do and the Discipleship Team we accomplished them. 

1. Recruited 30 key people to be equipped to ministry

2. Set up a physical center with several rooms for meeting and counseling people in need. Hired staff and purchased furniture. 

3. Wrote a series of unique Christian materials to train Lay Helpers

4. Established a unique adult training program that over 4000 or CHPC members and friends attended. 

5. Had 50 to 70 Lay Helpers that served as Counselors and prayer teams for Teleios and the Healing Service.

6. Established an evening Body Life Service that included worship, teaching, prayer, healing, and fellowship.

7. Established a morning worship service that included weekly communion and healing prayers. 

8. Began to travel and equip other churches and mission agencies in the Teleios Model. 

9. Developed a new non-profit organization that became Equipping Ministries International and another called Sweeten Life Systems. They have been active in about 100 nations. 

10. Larry and Ellen not only spearheaded these innovations, they retired from the ownership of a very profitable company to minister full time in the USA and around the world. They paid for and traveled to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, India, Ukraine, Europe, ETC. to equip Ministers and Missionaries. 

11. Larry was also responsible for us starting the LifeWay Counseling Center. He heard the Lord say that was our next step after doing Teleios and EMI. I was scared to death but reluctantly prayed and heard God confirm Larry's insights. 

12. They worked with Steve Sjogren and Van and Laurie Cochrane at Vineyard NW to establish Teleios at the Vineyard where his leadership, encouragements, and teaching were used mightily. 

Please remember Ellen and his daughters Laura and Martha as well as their children. Also remember to thank God for giving gifts to Larry and Ellen. God spoke to me in 1983 about the fact that He was "Pouring out His Spirit on all flesh to spark another Reformation." Larry and Ellen Chrouch are key elements of that New Reformation. 

Go to our website to see some of the results of Larry's influence. 

Empathy Heals? Are you Sure?

There is a lot of stuff about Empathy discussed on TED Talks, written in magazines, and debated on TV. However, much of it is a bit off kilter. 

I have done a lot of research, writing, and equipping on the topic of Empathy and helping relationships. As in most things, the definition is key to the term. It is easy to get confused and think Empathy, Compassion, Sympathy, and Altruism are the same. 

Our interpersonal interactions can vary from being a caring friend to offending others. Dr. Richard Walters, one of my most important Mentors, did a study on the ways we relate to others that can either build them up or tear them down. He led me to examine and compare Apathy, Empathy, Sympathy, and Enmeshment. 

   

    1. Apathy-Unconcerned about how others think, feel, or act.

   2. Empathy-An intentional desire and action to understand and respond to others’ thoughts, actions, and feelings with the cognitive ability to differentiate and respond according to what is best for the person, self, and society.

    3.  Sympathy-An intuitive and unconscious fellow feeling with another’s person’s feelings. This "Feeling With Others" can be so intense that it is difficult to differentiate my own feelings from their feelings. If they are sad, I cry. If they are happy, I laugh. This is wonderful if done in small doses. However, carried to an extreme it can lead to:

    4. Enmeshment-Being swallowed up and overwhelmed by another person’s feelings. It is an inability to differentiate my feelings from their feelings.

A Story About these Various Approaches to relating. A man was out hunting mushrooms when he felt the ground collapse under his feet and he fell into a pit that was 10 feet deep. He tried and tried but could not escape. 

Enmeshment. Man #4 came by and saw the pit and heard his cry for help. He ran over, saw the victim, and jumped down into the pit with the victim, hugged him and they both cried together in despair. 

Apathy: Man one came and herd the men cry out for assistance. He ran over to the hole, looked in and said, "I am sorry but I am in a big hurry and can't take the time to pull you out. He went on his way. 

Empathy: Man #2 came by, heard the cry and ran over to the pit. He knelt down and asked the men what he wanted to do. Heard that he wanted the guy to get a rope and pull him out. The guy agreed and quickly followed through but was not strong enough to do the job alone. 

Sympathy: Man # 3 heard the cry and rushed over to the pit. He fell on his stomach and asked how the victims were feeling. By this time they was terrified, and crying so the rescuer started weeping profusely with him. After some time, the rescuers went to get a rope and pulled them out. 

I train people to interact with empathy but learn to differentiate from their feelings and actions. The inability to differentiate oneself and one’s ethics and morals is called “Co-Dependency” in addiction circles. It is called “Counter Transference” in Psychology.

Shalom,

Dr. Gary Sweeten
Sweeten Life Systems, Inc
A 501c3 not for profit organization

From Family Hysteria to Mob Hysteria

The easiest way to explain mass hysteria is to think about riots, mobs, and soccer crowds going bonkers. I learned about these ideas when I did a Master's Thesis on "Mobs and Riots in Higher Education". One of the earliest writers on mobs of any kind was Auguste Labon, a French scholar who studied the mobs of the French Revolution. He said something like "We lose our ability to think individually when emotionally engaged in a crowd that becomes a mob." 

This inability to think clearly develops early in dysfunctional families. Some families produce children emotionally enmeshed or merged with a parent. These children grow up with an inability to think differently from others and seek groups with whom to lose themselves. Teenagers are notorious for losing their rational minds by merging themselves with other teens that dress alike, listen to the same music and attend the same concerts. They, and motorcycle gangs, inner city gangs, and others insist they are just "Being themselves by being just like their group". 

If we cannot think differently from our family, we are more easily pulled into the emotions of groups, crowds, and even mobs. There are many examples of people drawn into cults. I met a man in Asia that had sold his home, and belongings in order to take his family to a deserted mountain to greet the Lord who had been predicted to return on a certain date.

It is obvious that Jesus did not return and the man had lost his church, friends, followers, money, and reputation. It had been several years since the prophesy failed and he was back in ministry as a much chastened and humbled Christian. That is a very tough way to grow up. 

We are supposed to help our children grow up and leave home emotionally day by day until they are differentiated from us and can think independently. If we do, they are much less likely to get caught up in mass, emotional movements and lose our minds.

See our web for help growing up.








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