Armybarmy Blog

May 31, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2LC;DI;SP...)

How's your soul?
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I heard Major Len Turner preach on Isaiah recently (great preach - I wanted to sign up for officership after it but then realised I already had!). Anyway, he was on about the prophet Isaiah, who, as a good prophet, went around to people saying 'woe to you', 'woe to you', and 'woe to you'. And then he encountered the living God and he said 'woe to ME'.

Indeed. We aer so blessed to be in the hands of a merciful God. Seek out His judgement now, His disciplining in your life. Because, as we've said before, free will boils down to this: discipline now, or judgement later.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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USS has a programme called HONOUR JUNIOR SOLDIERS. It is a hardcore challenge for JSs. I hear that there is a tv show asking if you are as smart as a fifth grader. Well, I'm wondering if YOU are as smart as an Honour Junior Soldier. Really. I bounced the test off some adult salvos recently and as a group they were unable to reach the 80% pass threshold required of the ten year old JSs. I might pitch all the standards to you in days to come. But, for starters, know that they need to know all the doctrines off by heart. They have to know a Bible verse to support every doctrine. They have to regularly fire their cartridges and wear their uniforms. They need to do their rations daily. And so on...
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Holy. now.
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The Salvation Army is a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus. Don't forget.

'Revolution' is not a youth councils theme. It is not a cool logo that we splatter on hats and shirts and pins and yo-yos and jackets and patches and screens and websites and so on. It is not a a theme or a title or a topic or a _____. A revolution is an effective overthrow of an illegitimate rule. An aborted revolution is a mere revolt.

And, remember Railton's words: "Merely to recommend revolution is contemptible. We must make it." What else is contemptible? Well, baby rape - that is contemptible. So, don't put yourself on the level of the contemptible - one who bought a book or listened to a CD or wore a baseball cap or went to a youth councils with a revolution theme and moved on to the next thing. Contemptible. It is not over. We must make it (revolution).
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JAC61 is right around the corner - It is the USS issue - all USS Salvos contributing articles - all great looking stuff. Cue up some time to dig in - and in the mean time, refresh yourself on JAC60 - the tenth anniversary issue.
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Remember the poor.
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God can make cold calls into warm calls within 90 seconds. I've seen it a few times this weekend. So if you don't like cold call evangelism, press in through the first 90 seconds into the warm call part. You are not by yourself. God is with you (assuming you are a believer and all 'fessed up). Why not try it out today?
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 30th, 2009

Today I spent with various pastors and leaders at the Baptist Union of Victoria at their gathering. The theme was on community and impacting our communities with the Kingdom. Particularly we were discovering the justice journey together. You'd think the subject of justice would get boring for me as I keep presenting it to different groups - but I find the opposite is true - instead of it becoming shallow it grows deeper with every telling. We talked about social justice reformers who were able to imagine a better world and then set out to change it... Your Kingdom come on EARTH as it is in heaven.
the big question was 'how do we teach the gospel as a justice principled, life-change rather than simply a personal relationship with God?' Good question.

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Candidates weekend is happening right now in Geelong (for the Southern Territory of Australia) here's believing that many more will give their lives in the pursuit of God's kingdom advance through the salvation war. Your prayers would be appreciated.

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A little girl was eating dinner in a Christian home and her father said, 'have you washed you hands' and she replied, 'oh daddy, that sort of thing is for pharisees'!

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Here's a scripture that's worth some contemplation - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (HT:GW)

Danielle Strickland

May 29, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2TEK;FH)

How's your soul?
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God is more amazing that we can fathom. If you take one of the epiphany passages in the Bible and just camp out there for a bit, envisioning how the Lord Jesus Christ appears in majesty, it is breath-taking. He is THE Almighty God, the God of gods, the King of kings, the Lord of lords.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Welcome to international readers. Here is a great Bible verse to learn and learn from: John 3:17
لانه لم يرسل الله ابنه الى العالم ليدين العالم بل ليخلّص به العالم.

因 為 神 差 他 的 兒 子 降 世 ， 不 是 要 定 世 人 的 罪 （ 或 作 ： 審 判 世 人 ； 下 同 ） ， 乃 是 要 叫 世 人 因 他 得 救 。

神がご自分の子を世に遣わしたのは，世を裁くためではなく，世が彼を通して救われるためだからだ。

Sest Jumal ei ole Oma Poega läkitanud maailma, et Ta maailma üle kohut mõistaks, vaid et maailm Tema läbi õndsaks saaks!

For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
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It is true. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world so that you and I can be saved. That sovereign God chose to sacrifice Himself so that you can be saved. Follow Jesus. How do you start? Turn from your sins - ask Him to forgive you and to help you avoid them from now on in. And obey Him. Read the Bible daily - it is God's heart on paper (said William Booth). And converse with Him - talk AND listen. If you need some direction, contact us (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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Holy. now.
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In THE CALL, Rick Joyner makes a number of interesting points.

"I have spent many hours with conservative evangelical leaders of major ministries to whom God has begun speaking through dreams, visions and prophecy... This is becoming so widespread that I have begun to wonder if there are any conservative evangelical leaders with whom God is not dealing in this way" (p17).
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"Many people fall when My Spirit touches them. The time for falling is over. You must learn to stand when My Spirit moves. If you do not stand when My Spirit moves, He cannot use you. The heathen should fall before Me, but I need for My people to stand so that I can use them" (p31).
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"You must seek His judgemtns every day, and you must make them known on the earth. If His people will walk in His judgements, many on the earth will know of them before the great Day of Judgement. By this many moe will be saved. It is His desire that none shall be lost" (p43).
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From Jonah: "I slept when the storm came upon the ship that I was in while running from the Lord. The church is also sleeping. I was the prophet of God, but the heathen had to wake me up. So it is with the church. The heathen have more discernment that the church at this time. They know when the church is goign the wrong way, and they are shaking the church, trying to wake you up" (p47).
Remember the poor.
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Let these words inspire your evangelising today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 28, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2DM;DB)

How's your soul?
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I know some guys working on a salvo project on corporate holiness. I think they are tackling the following issues:

Individual holiness v social holiness.
Grace v Truth
Missional imperatives v professional accountability
Prophetic voice v public perception
Healthy realism v flexibility
Thrift v extravagance

It should be a great addition to Salvo praxis. You'll want to save up a hnadufl of dollars to add it to your library. Can you think of any other tensions? (revolution @ mmccxx.net)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Angels and demons is a trendy theme these days, what with a movie and a book and all. If you want the real thing, in a hard-hitting, spiritually challenging manner, you should try The Final Quest, The Call, and The Torch and The Sword by Rick Joyner. This is real stuff, not fluff and imagination.

I'll feed you a few outtakes in coming posts...
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Holy. now.
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"But a funny thing happened on the way to defeating Communism. Religion has emerged as the sole institution standing in the way of a powerful neo-statist liberalism, in which equality doctrines are used not as a shield but as a sword — to legitimate state intrusion into once-private realms." Read the whole article here:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDQwMGU5ZjgwNmFiODcxZDgyNTAxYjVmYzY2ZjViOTY=
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The Warcry is the source for a couple of days' worth of stories on the Australian Prime Minister's devotional live in the Melbourne Herald-Sun. The PM was interviewed by The Warcry and the major daily has been feeding off it. (one of the Adelaide majors often picks facts up off The Warcry...)
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Read JAC60 soon because JAC61 is coming up on JUNE 1.
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Remember the poor.
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Let's be aware of what God is doing in our midst. There are angels and demons active in our lives. Let's agree with and obey God in our war-fighting, and fight to rescue people held prisoner by satan by the matchless power of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 27, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2MH;hb2RH)

How's your soul?
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How about that Australia Southern Territory Red Shield Appeal? Global economic downturn has been running for more than a year and yet last year Red Shield appeal blasted the all-time record and this year the main weekend busted that record (for the weekend), too! Hallelujah.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Salvo keys: holiness and covenant.
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I believe that The Salvation Army is a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus. Andrew Clark posts on this affirmation at his blog (at right).
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Holy. now.
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(more from Ian Gillingham)...

"You have saved the best till last

"God is a lover. He loves to party. Weddings are parties. Joyous occasions. They are celebrations between a husband and wife. These earthly gatherings foreshadow the greatest wedding of all time that is about to take place. The Host has seen fit to prepare a beautiful bride, the beloved, for His One and Only Son, the Bridegroom. Since creation those who have followed God wholeheartedly and kept His commands, comprise this great company of people called the beloved. Commencing with Abram, the Jewish people were chosen as a people to convey God’s love to the nations. Then God sovereignly chose to graft Gentiles who believed, along with the Jews. As history draws to it’s grand climax we will see this beautiful bride arise as a glorious gift to the lover.

"Jew and Gentile. One beloved. One bride. For one lover."
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Friends don't let friends kill their unborn babies.
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Remember the poor.
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"Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth." --John Wesley

God help us shake the gates of hell in our evangelising today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 26, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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SASB647

When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to thee my prayer.
Spirit of peace, my Comforter and healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet thee there.

Chorus
From a hill I know,
Healing waters, flow:
O rise, Immanuel's tide,
And my soul overflow!

2.
Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving;
Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;
Cleanse thou the wounds from all but thee far hidden.
And when the waters flow let my healing appear.

3.
Light, life and love are in that healing fountain,
All I require to cleanse me and restore;
Flow through my soul, redeem its desert places,
And make a garden there for the Lord I adore.
Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Orsborn's phrase, earthly striving' encompasses meanings of 'in' and 'of'. And while our earthly warfare necessarily includes some striving in the 'on the earth' sense - quite innocuous - too often it also includes something iniquitous - striving 'OF the world'. And the natural dusting from our strivings on the earth require God's washings. But how much more do we need his washing of the strivings OF the earth. Too often we aim, with self inspiration, at self-aggrandizing ends. And that stinks. It stinks like dirty socks - not the kind that have been out for a couple of hours on the basketball court without a break, but the kind of stinky socks that have been out for a couple of weeks in the back alleys without a break. It reeks.

God, wash from our hands (and feet) the dust of earthly striving, please.
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Holy. now.
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Some deep, juicy meat from Ian Gillingham on Israel (excerpt from a forthcoming JAC article):

So here we are, looking forward to the great wedding in heaven. Yet how can there be a wedding when the bride is not complete? Since God divorced Israel in Jeremiah 3:8, how can she be considered “members together of one body” with the Gentiles, as Paul writes? For we know that God is bound by His own laws. Israel was guilty of harlotry and was

thus divorced. And He plainly records in Deuteromony 24:1-4 that if a woman is divorced (note vs.4), “then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD.”

God is a husband to Israel. (see Isaiah 54:5) As we apply Israel to be the woman and her first husband to be God, then we discover that after the divorce, God is not allowed to remarry her because of her harlotry. How can God remarry Israel whom He has divorced? He is bound by His own word. The ramifications in answering this are crucial, yes even foundational, to our entire understanding that God is the truth and that He is love. If God can make exceptions and break His own word then it undermines what He has recorded in Scripture. Our trust in Him erodes. But...if the Holy Spirit would grant revelation with another look in the Scriptures, then we should pursue it.

As an intercessor, I trust you are continually looking for answers to biblical questions beyond your understanding, with more Scripture! “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” (Luke 6:21) Look at Romans 7:1 “The law has authority over a man only as long as he lives.” Read on. “For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.” Is there a stirring in your spirit? God grant it! God is bound to his law on marriage as long as the man lives. The incarnate God, Jesus Christ, was Israel’s husband in the flesh, making the implications of this verse nothing short of stellar. Because by his death it means that Israel (the woman) could be released from the law of marriage! That’s freedom. And now Christ lives and is eagerly getting his beloved ready to be remarried at a later date!

This is love! This is redemption incarnate. Rejoice! Give thanks! This is God’s master plan of redemption for the whole world. May your spirit burst forth right now with longing, yes, even yearning for the bride to be complete. May deep things in your spirit call to the deep regions of God’s heart concerning the restoration of Israel. May God grant you the spirit of prayer for this matter. Ask for it! May you have tears, groans with understanding, and intercession for the bride to come forth in fullness. Jew and Gentile together. May the Lord dismantle any wrong theological beliefs you have held concerning the church and Israel and put you back together with right understanding. But above all may God grant you a heart of love. Yes, for the house of Israel, but especially for the whosoever. If you want it - it’s yours!
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Remember the poor.

Okay, everybody gets saved today. (if they don't let it be by their choice, not our disobedience or fear) So, ask people you know or see or sit beside or across from or walk pass or see if they need to get saved. If so, tell them the Gospel in a loving, persuasive manner. Then give them opportunity to repent and believe.

If we all do this then hundreds, if not thousands, will be saved today. Are you in?
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 25, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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Welcome international readers. The Bible verse below is important to clarify that we all live one life for which we are accountable to God. It indicates that we die once and then face judgement. We do not 'come back' as a frog or a clothes hanger or another person. We live once. We die once. We face judgement. The only way to be ready to face judgement is to repent of your sins and believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. For more information, contact us (revolution @ mmccxx.net):

وكما وضع للناس ان يموتوا مرة ثم بعد ذلك الدينونة
Sepse ligji, duke pasur hijen e të mirave që kishin për të ardhur dhe jo figurën vetë të gjërave, nuk mundet kurrë që t'i bëjë të përkryer ata që i afrohen Perëndisë me anë të të njëjtave flijime që ofrohen vazhdimisht vit për vit.
按 著 定 命 ， 人 人 都 有 一 死 ， 死 後 且 有 審 判 。
Y de la manera que está establecido á los hombres que mueran una vez, y después el juicio
Et comme il est réservé aux hommes de mourir une fois, et après cela vient le jugement
Dan sama seperti manusia ditetapkan untuk mati hanya satu kali saja, dan sesudah itu dihakimi
Eta hala nola ordenatu baitzaye guiçoney behin hiltzera, eta guero iugemendua
Եւ ինչպէս մարդոց վերապահուած է մէ՛կ անգամ մեռնիլ, իսկ անկէ ետք՝ դատաստանը
And since it is reserved for all mankind once to die, and afterwards to be judged.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Speaking of judgement, Major Willis Howell posts, 'Hell? Yes!' (blogging at right) in an affirmation of the consequences of disobedience to God. It is not a happy conversation, but one everyone should have.
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It is Red Shield month in many parts of the world and the design of a clean and simple logo in Calgary, 1914, to help raise funds for The Salvation Army's work on the front lines of world war has proven a goldmine for Salvationists in the century since, as the Red Shield has become one of the most recognised symbols anywhere.
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Holy. now.
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In light of the preceding, who knows what impact your regularly efforts this week might have?
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Remember the poor.
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And, tying together a theme of today's post with our daily evangelistic exhortation, here's a bit of salvo verse:

Should I be blind to human ills
and deaf to human cries
if I ignore imploring hands
or children's anguished eyes
though my name shine across the world
my dreams contented swell
I shall wake up some bitter day
to find myself in hell.
(Geoffrey Allen)

Bust some souls.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 24, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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Here is part of Colonel Janet Munn's teaching on Fasting from JAC40 (available in entirety top right):

When You Fast…
What is the Lord calling you to by way of fasting? Are you to enter into a short-term fast, like Finney’s three-day recharging of the spiritual battery? Or disciplined observance of the 40 period of Lent, a season of fasting?

Is God calling you to a fasted lifestyle, like the prophetess Anna or John the Baptist, in which you live in a such a way that you are continually fasting from something or some things? Perhaps you are to give or significantly reduce your intake of certain unhealthy foods. Perhaps you have some hobbies or recreational activities that are not in themselves evil, but that can sometimes take too high a priority in your life and you need to fast from them for a period of time. This will help to re-establish in your heart, your affections and in your calendar, that loving the Lord your God is the number one passion of your life. This could involve fasting from the computer, the Internet, the television, the telephone or sports or movies – anything that can work its way too high up on our list of priorities.

May God help us to enter into the “first works” of Jesus, and from that may we see a great unleashing of the “greater works” in our midst.

Questions
How would a lifestyle of fasting and prayer change the way we currently do business?

What would integration of fasting into our ways of doing and being mean for each of us individually and for The Salvation Army corporately?

Do you desire to be like Jesus? What are you doing by way of intentional discipline to move toward that goal? Could fasting help?

How much are we willing to deny ourselves, to sacrifice, in terms of our bodily appetites, that the Kingdom of God would be more strongly established in these days?

Do you desire to be about the “greater works” of the Lord Jesus? Are you seeing them to the degree that you desire? If not, why not? Could ongoing fasting and prayer, individual and corporate, be part of the answer?
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Ten Commandments Prayer
Deuteronomy 5:6-12;16-21

You are our God, Yahweh. You rescued Your people from Egypt, the house of bondage.

We will have no other gods except You.

We won’t carve, form, or fashion any god, of any size, shape, or colour, of anything that flies, crawls, or swims. We will neither bow down before them nor worship them, for You, Yahweh, our God, won’t tolerate our flirtatious escapades. You hold parents responsible for any sins we bequeath to children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But we’re amongst the thousands who love You and obey Your command, thousands on whom You heap lovingkindness and unfailing mercy.

We will not toss around Your name, Yahweh, irreverently or casually, dropping it for effect. You won’t put up with such transgression. And we’ll sanctify the Sabbath day, as You, Yahweh, have commanded. We’ll honour our parents, as You, Yahweh, have commanded. And we’ll look forward to enjoying long lives in the land You promise and provide.

We will not murder.
We will not sleep with someone to whom we are not married.
We won’t steal.
We won’t lie about our neighbours.
We will not covet our neighbour’s spouse, or our neighbour’s home, or our neigbour’s home entertainment system, or our neighbour’s livelihood, or any of our neighbour’s possessions.
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Holy. now.
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Hype the HUB. Read JAC60. Go for souls. Start some outposts (mmccxx, anyone?). Go to The War College. Go to Training College. Soldier up. Evangelise anything that moves.
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I've been part of a group in the past that met daily for half an hour to read the BIble to each other out loud (group of half a dozen or so). It's an exciting exercise you may want to try.
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Remember the poor.
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(hat tip Sylvia Overton): Laughter and evangelism, by Fr. James Martin:

(part 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFR-Eo3TcKc&feature=related
(Part 2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdGdcN0TN-M&feature=related
(Part 3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djw5yVgNC9k&feature=related
Happy evangelising, today.
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God is here.
God help us all be holy.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 23, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2JT)

How's your soul?
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"The practice of blogging has become so widespread now that academics are researching it, policymakers are deliberating about it, businesses are salivating at its revenue potential, and even cops are being assigned to hunt down its practitioners. And as the net tightens in Burma, Iran and Syria and those others, it also tightens closer to home, especially in Fiji but also in apparently benign democracies such as Malaysia."

http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=13545

Armybarmy is the oldest salvo blog in the world but it has not yet faced that kind of persecution.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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We posted on Bill Bright the other day. He's on my list of greatest people outside of the Bible. Anyway, when he started slamming back 40-day fasts in his 70s, he felt God prodding him to try to recruit two million others to do it as well. Wow. My friend determined to raise 100.000 of those two million. So, even though it might not sound too common, a lot of people do it, and maybe some people you know.
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Holy. now.
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Theology in a Minor Key - http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0906&article=theology-in-a-minor-key
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Have you read the latest Andrew Clark post on The Army affirmations? He's at right, on #7.

Willis Howell posts on hell.

James Thompson is on about holiness from a different perspective.
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Remember the poor.
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A lot of people get saved when they hear the Gospel and they are given an opportunity to get saved. They need to repent of their sins and trusting and obeying Jesus until He returns. Let's try to do it, today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 22, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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"Some officers are clothing themselves with the garments of the churches. Losing sight of the fact that God raised up a new force in the Army as the expression of his mind, they (officers) look hankeringly back behind the origin of The Salvation Army. If he can, he will drag us behind the consecration of our Founders, that whole-hearted separation which brought The Army into being. He (the devil) is maneuvering to drive us back to the church and chapel ways from which the Founder and Army Mother stepped boldly out."
p71 Powers of Salvation Army Officers - Salvationism FloBo, hat tip Rawbie D)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Are you going to BTI? Booth-Tucker Institute in Vancouver is a kicking incarnational leadership refresher that has had delegates from several countries ranging from LO to Lt-Colonel and great speakers, powerful spiritual encounters, and renewed vision and passion for mission. You live in a slum in Vancouver for the whole time and get your fingernails dirty and pray and evangelise and serve. Good times. Every Soldier should do it at least once. (see thewarcollege.com)
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We hope you enjoyed the high quality live online broadcast of Famous Last Words with Lieut-Colonel Lyell Rader preaching on 'The Still Point of the Turning World'.
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Holy. now.
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Have you read JAC60 (and 1-59)? In just 8 days it will be replaced by JAC61, a speciall USS Issue. That is, every article comes from the great United Stated Southern Territory with special guest editor, Major Willis Howell, the USS Training Principal. What a great idea of a territorial issue! A big hat tip to Major Howell and the USS for their leadership in this initiative (it may be that your territory would like to take an issue - contact revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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Remember the poor.
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"It is significant that Christian character and compassion thrive most vigorously in the lives of those who seek to lead others to the Lord" (General Clarence Wiseman). Go for souls today!
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 21, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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Exalted in Justice- a prayer based on Genesis 18:19; Psalm 11:7; Proverbs 1:3; Proverbs 8:20; Isaiah 5:16; Lamentations 3:36; John 14:15; Psalm 69:33; Psalm 72:4; Psalm 72:12; Psalm 109:30,31; Jeremiah 20:13; John 3:36; Job 27:6; Deuteronomy 6:25; Isaiah 32;17; Jeremiah 20:13; 23:6; Deuteronomy 24:14; Proverbs 31:9; Psalm 9:18-19; 82:4; Job 5:15-16.

We, as parents, will lead our families, directing them in Your way, Yahweh, doing righteousness and justice. You are righteous and You love righteous actions. People who live in justice see You there. We receive Your instruction in wisdom, justice, righteousness, and equity. We will walk in righteousness along the path of justice.

Yahweh, God of Armies, You are exalted in justice; You display Your holiness through Your righteousness. You do not approve when a person is denied justice. Yahweh, You listen to the poor and do not despise the imprisoned. You empower Your leaders to vindicate the afflicted people, to crush the oppressors, and to rescue the oppressed.

We’re full of praise to You, Yahweh. We sing our hallelujahs amidst crowds of Your worshippers. You stand up beside and for the needy. You save the needy from those who condemn. We sing to You, Yahweh! We praise You, Yahweh! You deliver the poor from the grip of the wicked.

We will show You our love through our obedience (We will demonstrate our faith in our obedience). We will not let go of our righteousness and justice. Our conscience is clear for life. Our righteousness is birthed in our careful obedience, Yahweh, to Your commands. The work of our righteousness will be peace; the effect of our righteousness will be everlasting quietness and confidence.

We sing songs to You, Yahweh! We praise You – Hallelujahweh! You rescue the deprived from the depraved!

You are Yahweh Tsidqenu – The LORD our Righteousness!

We will not exploit labourers, those who are destitute and needy, whether local or foreigner. We will not keep silent. We will advocate for those without a voice (the unborn, the oppressed… - pray for those for whom God is giving you a burden). We will stand up for the poor and helpless and see that they get justice!

The oppressed will not be ignored forever. Their hopes will not be smashed by oppressors indefinitely. Arise, Yahweh, do not let mere mortals prevail against You. Judge the heathen.

You rescue the fragile and marginalized from wicked hands. You rescue them from cutting, vicious verbal assaults so that injustice must shut its mouth.

Amen.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Juice from the Salvos in 1894 NY Times:

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=2&res=9F04E3DF1730E033A25752C0A9619C94659ED7CF

It includes
A Salvation Tornado (a meeting)
The Harrisburg Torpedo (a salvo)
The Saved Anarchist (a salvo)
One of the meetings was advertised as 'baptism of fire'.
(hat tip Sean Attard)
----
Holy. now.
----
"We are caught up in God's choreography of peace." (Lieut-Colonel Lyell Rader).
----
Remember the poor.
----
I know someone who prayerfully determines to evangelise ten people every week. And, coincidently (?), people seem to get saved. It sounds like an idea worth trying this week.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 20, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hbJM)

How's your soul?
----
So, there has been some interest in the fasting posts in recent days. You can zip over to JAC (top right) and hit issue 25 for the JAC feature on fasting with testimonies from people who do one day fasts to people with 40 day fasts. Here is a short summary from JAC25 on fasting.
Fasting can:
- stimulate a new found love for Jesus
- bring great glory to Jesus
- revolutionize your walk with Jesus
- be a tool to open up the Word of God like never before.
- cause your prayer life to become very exciting
- cause revival fires to erupt, igniting other believers
- allow new ground to be gained for the kingdom of God
- allow you to pillage the devil’s kingdom (remember, the reason the Son of God
appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
- greatly enhance deliverance ministry
- be intercession for others who are weak, asleep or unsaved
- be a powerful weapon in the hands of Jesus
- be an enjoyable sacrifice unto the Lord
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
It's here! Wednesday!

FAMOUS LAST WORDS - "The Still Point of the Turning World" featuring Lieut-Colonel Lyell Rader with Cadet Nathan Rowe leading worship - at the training college in Melbourne OR live online broadcast here:

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/sstv/

Check yesterday's post for timezones around the world. Check it out!
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Holy. now.
----
"God has put His heart on paper" (William Booth, of the Bible).
----
Sign up for officership (unless God calls you to something else).
----
Remember the poor.
----
Demons like to vomit and defecate and urinate on people (The Final Quest). And we get to wipe it all off of them. It's important in that wiping (evangelism) that wedon't get smeared ourselves. Let's not be unaware of the devil's schemes. Let's evangelise hard today.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

19 May 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2ZSC;JH;MH)

How's your soul?
----
"The Still Point of the Turning World"
FAMOUS LAST WORDS

We're experimenting with a three-camera live-edit online broadcast of this popular Salvo series - Famous Last Words, and we're inviting you to join us.

The event is live Wednesday 20 May 7:30pm - Melbourne time (that is 2pm in Kabul; noon in Antananarivo, Madagascar; 9:30am in England, 5:30am NYC, 3:30am in San Salvador; and 2:30am Vancouver).

It features noted Salvo holiness teacher Colonel Lyell Rader preaching as if it was his opportunity and Salvo worship leader Cadet Nathan Rowe on worship. You don't HAVE to watch it live but you can! Thanks. Tell all your friends and networks.

The topic of the preach is "The Still Point of the Turning World."

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/sstv/
----
If you are Melbourne, attend the event live, of course - 7:30pm at the training college.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Welcome to our international readers. Here is a powerful verse from the Bible that talks about what Jesus did on the Cross.

فان المسيح ايضا تألم مرة واحدة من اجل الخطايا البار من اجل الاثمة لكي يقربنا الى الله مماتا في الجسد ولكن محيى في الروح

因 基 督 也 曾 一 次 為 罪 受 苦 （ 有 古 卷 作 ： 受 死 ） ， 就 是 義 的 代 替 不 義 的 ， 為 要 引 我 們 到 神 面 前 。 按 著 肉 體 說 ， 他 被 治 死 ； 按 著 靈 性 說 ， 他 復 活 了 。

Nitekim Mesih de bizleri Tanrıya ulaştırmak amacıyla doğru kişi olarak doğru olmayanlar için günah sunusu olarak ilk ve son kez öldü. Bedence öldürüldü, ama ruhça diriltildi.

Porque también Cristo murió por los pecados una sola vez, el justo por los injustos, para llevarnos a Dios, muerto en la carne pero vivificado en el espíritu;

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit 1 Peter 3:18
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Holy. now.
----
There was intense response to yesterday's post on fasting. Here's a basic primer on fasting by Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, responsible for the Four Spiritual Laws, the Jesus Film, millions of converts and disciples), who started doing 40-day fasts at the guidance of God after he turned 70:

http://www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/how-to-fast/index.aspx

This emphasises the importance of drinking water, of medical approval, of ways to protect health during and following extended fasts. I recommend it for those embarking on long ones.
----
Remember the poor.
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There are a lot of people bound by the enemy. They are deceived by false religions, false idols, habitual sin, wilful disobedience, shame, demonic strategy, and more. We are privileged to be ones who go and rescue these people from their bondage, freeing them from hopelessness, sin, despair, introducing them to Jesus and forgiveness and new life and purpose and peace and much, much more. It is a high calling. May God help us live worthy of it in our evangelising today.
----
God is here.
God help us be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 18, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2G;hb2JS;hb2MG)

How's your soul?
----
From Colonel H. Gariepy:
"A lawyer in an attempt to trap Jesus posed the subtle question, "Which is the greatest commandment?" With no less than 613 of them how could one be chosen as supreme without slighting the rest? But Christ distilled the entire number to one central simplicity -- love God.

"Our Lord quoted the text in Deuteronomy 6:5. However, he added that we should loved God "with all our mind." With that he annexed the whole world of science and knowledge. We are to love God not only "with all our heart" -- our affectional nature, "with all our strength" -- our physical nature, "with all our soul" -- our spiritual nature, but also "with all our mind" -- our intellectual nature."
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
I have a buddy who fasts. He said this about a three-day absolute fast (nothing, including water):

"I found it so much harder than the 40day water/juice because of the mental impact. To go just three days trying to take every thought/desire captive for water was very very difficult. Talk about thoughts running rampant! We both found ourselves lusting for something so common, that we all take for granted. Water is innocent of course. But it illumined just how consuming desire can be. It was so strong I just wanted to open my mouth in the shower to sneak a sip."

"One might find this extreme until they are in the same place of sacrifice. Then the songs we sing about Christ being our all in all, or Matt Redman's "every single breath..." begin to take on new meaning.Holy. now.
----
Holy. now.
----
Here is a short but well argued article called Holy Matrimony, Holy Trinity - a Christian take on same sex 'marriage'.

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=11767
----
Karyn Baker (blogging at right) has a funny post about a battle between the presbyterians and the catholics.
----
Here is a challenging piece on what and how we should be training our teens and twenties:
"helping students get it":
http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=11794
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Remember the poor.
----
God for souls and go for the worst.
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 17, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Danielle Strickland's blog has a lot of news for those interested. There is a new twitter. There is a debrief on Operation 58 (an effective SALVO youth justice fund-raising and deploying initiative out of South Australia), video of the Operation 58 meeting last week in Eastern Victoria Division featuring worship leader Brad Ellis and preacher Danielle Strickland, info on Fairtrade Fortnight (check it out), and more. She blogs at right.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Speaking of twitter, Commissioner Knaggs might end up being called the Twitter TC. He's got more than 4,500 followers on twitter. Of course, he might be remembered as the techie TC (in that he seems out in front of even the leading techies in the territory). Regardless, with the daily twitter and daily blog (which he's been doing since he was a CS) and considerable travel, I reckon that he is the most accessible TC in history.

Can anyone think of anyone else who deserves to be in the conversation?
----
Holy. now.
----
More on twitter. Here are some highlights from Knaggs's recent twitter posts:

"Addicted? We give support to help more than 500 people defeat unhealthy addictions each week in Australia. 1 day ago

"Good restaurants? Salvos serve 100,000 meals each week to hungry in Australia.. 2 days ago
In Australia, Salvos provide beds for more than 2,000 homeless people each week. 4 days ago

"Salvo Employment Plus facilitates the employment of 1,000 people each week in Australia."
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The 1914 Orders and Regulations for Wards is here: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_007.pdf
----
Genevieve Peterson has a great post at justsalvos blog (at right) on worldview.
----
The pope's visit to Israel was successful: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124242965712325495.html
----
Today the speech and conferral of the doctor of law degree at Notre Dame, blogged yesterday, happens, as do two game sevens in the NBA. Which will get more press? Which has more impact?
----
Remember that FAMOUS LAST WORDS is live Wednesday night (Melbourne time) here:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/sstv/
(see previous post for international times)
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Remember the poor.
----
My buddy told me about a relative, 96, fighting pneumonia for the last five weeks in hospital. Anway, even though he is on oxygen, can't keep food down, vomits endlessly, can't use the bathroom, can barely talk and is uncomfortable because of various bedsores he's given away over 30 New Testaments to other patients and staff in the intensive care ward.

This guy is going out fighting and it won't be surprising if he takes more than a few people with him from the hospital ward to heaven. Hallelujah! Use his example to stir your evangelising today.
----
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

bonus post - FAMOUS LAST WORDS

We're experimenting with a three-camera live-edit online broadcast of this popular Salvo series - Famous Last Words, and we're
inviting you to join us.

The event is live Wednesday 20 May 7:30pm - Melbourne time (that is 2pm in Kabul; noon in Antananarivo, Madagascar; 9:30am in England, 5:30am NYC, 3:30am in San Salvador; and 2:30am Vancouver).

It features noted Salvo holiness teacher Colonel Lyell Rader preaching as if it was his opportunity and Salvo worship leader Cadet Nathan Rowe on worship. You don't HAVE to watch it live but you can! Thanks.

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/sstv/

grace,
Stephen Court

PS read today's regular post, below.

May 16, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2MvH;BM)

How's your soul?
----
Most people in USA are pro-life rather than pro-death for the first time since polling. For detailed reporting, check out this gallup report:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/More-Americans-Pro-Life-Than-Pro-Choice-First-Time.aspx

Christians are pro-life, of course, in that people are created in the image of God (see post earlier this week - 'make way, make way - the image of God') and so to kill a human is like killing God in effigy (hat tip Paul Cox).
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In a related item, 'God and Obama at Notre Dame' considers the cultural clashes within Catholicism that bang up against abortion and politics. "Opposition to abortion doesn't stand at the center of Catholic theology. It doesn't even stand at the center of Catholic faith. It does stand, however, at the center of Catholic culture in this country. Opposition to abortion is the signpost at the intersection of Catholicism and American public life. " Salvo readers might make application to our own subculture. It is an interesting read:

http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/482btmli.asp?pg=1
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I'm told coldplay.com is giving away a free album today.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Thanks for response to the request for Salvo miracles. If there are any more you are game to share, please email revolution @ mmccxx.net.
----
JAC60 is out there and kicking. Read it all, top right. THen slam back the 59 archived issues going back into the last century.
----
Here is Peter Wagner on apostolic spheres:

http://www.globalharvest.org/spheres.htm
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Holy. now.
----
This is the vision statement of The Salvation Army Thrift Stores in Ontario Canada:

"By operating successful thrift stores and integrating with the mission and work of The Salvation Army as a whole, we exist to be a functioning and thriving modern day model of William Booth's conceived "Household Salvage Brigade" through which the marginalized and excluded of society will be refreshed and regenerated by way of meeting their practical needs."

William Booth would be proud.

tstores.ca

Head's up all you Thrift Store and Salvo Store and Salvation Army Family Store types...
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Remember the poor.
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There is a movie out now called angels and demons. I haven't seen it (and that is not the point of the post). But I am increasingly aware of the involvement of angels and demons in the salvation war. Whether it is Pilgrim's Progress or Final Quest or Angel Wars or ... the BIBLE, we are reminded that angels and demons are active.

May God give us all spiritual eyes to see in the heavenly realms and remember that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of the dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.
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And may God make clear to you any sin you may be harbouring, any sin the people you are evangelising may be harbouring, and any demonic bondage they may be suffering so that you can more effectively persuade them to repent of their sin and trust and obey Jesus, today.
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God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 15 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2XC;KS;BM)

How's your soul?
----
We got blessed by The Navigators back in training college days (hat tip Doug Hammond) and have been influenced by their discipling philosophy since. Here is a link to their Discipleship Journal:

http://www.navpress.com/dj/ (hat tip Gordon Cotterill - blogging at right).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Those interested in more of 'tal and acacia' - salvo recording artist types - cna hit their myscpace and listen to a few songs and read up on the forthcoming album - WAKE UP (out July 14), here:

http://www.myspace.com/talandacacia

"Produced by Monroe Jones (Ginny Owens, Chris Rice, Third Day, Caedmon's Call), Tal & Acacia's Wake Me album is a collection of songs meant for the times, to energize and inspire, and free us. Jones states, "I love this album; it sounds like an iPod commercial. I am moved by this music. We are all in the desert and not by accident today, and people are ready to hear something new and fresh like this."

Here are a couple of other notable salvo myspace pages encountered while searching for the salvo revolution headquarters (for which I was searching for some of the coolest salvo merch available - stuff like the iconic Fulton Hawk-revolution Jesus YO-YOs and stuff - I'll link you soon):

http://www.myspace.com/johnlarsson
http://www.myspace.com/122856459 (Gowans)
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Holy. now.
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This is a long report on a long study on what makes us happy. It is similar to the famous 7-up study (except without the docos every seven years). The link is here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200906/happiness

Professor Vaillant was asked, “What have you learned from the Grant Study men?” Vaillant’s response: “That the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.”

This is a great reminder that salvationism is not about programmes or services or statistics (!) or ... as much as relationships. And as we invest in relationships with people they catch our infectious love of Jesus and some repent and believe and start relationships with our great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

(yes, programmes can help us develop relationships and statistics flow out of success in helping people start relationships with Jesus)
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alright - this link is a bit political, but our blog is not normally political - so why include it? It is an interesting take on the intrusion of politics into spirituality and the marginalisation of Christianity in the public square. And it includes a surprising gospel paragraph right in the middle of a very biting article:

http://townhall.com/columnists/AnnCoulter/2009/05/13/liberal_taliban_issues_fatwa_against_miss_california
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Remember the poor.
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"Biggest Band in the World" - did you know that The Salvation Army mustered a band of 10,000 instruments for the 25th anniversary of The Army in 1890 at London's Crystal Palace (according to the official historical record). Herbert Booth gallopped across sixty acres to lead the musicians and "with a wide sweep of his baton released a tsunami of sound from the band and massed choirs." The song? "God is keepign His soldiers fighting... but we're sure to have the victory." (hat tip The Sentinel - Newsletter of the Victorian Chapter of The Salvation Army Historical Society).

We're sure to have the victory - another couplet in that song is 'well tear hell's throne to pieces and win the world for Jesus' - God help you as you rip a bit of it apart today in your evangelising.
----
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 14, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
I recently heard that Jews believe each person has an angel and that angel, among other things, goes ahead of that person calling, 'make way, make way - the image of God!'

Hallelujah! (hat tip Colonel Elaine Rader)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Jesus' tremendous name
Puts all our foes to flight
Jesus, the meek, the angry Lamb
A Lion in the fight

By all hell's host withstood
We all hell's host o'erthrow
And conquering them
Through Jesus' blood
We still to conquer go
(Charles Wesley)

"The Angry Lamb" - not the most popular take. Let's all hell's host o'erthrow through Jesus' blood!
----
Holy. now.
----
Colonel Lyell Rader argues that our "doctrine of sanctification is about human flourishing." So, get holy. Now. Flourish.
----
Andrew Clark tackles affirmation #4 - guaranteed to tick off some people - over at his blog (see list at right - Euroblogs). Kathleen Pearce has some good quotes at her blog (right, Aussie list). Andrew Bale has a classic reminder on prayer (euroblogs).
----
Remember the poor.
----
Colonel Lyell Rader told the story of the Salvo invasion of India, and how the first song epitomised our Weselyan theology and universal mission - "The foundation plank of The Salvation Army - 'will you go (to the Eden above)?'" No exceptions - everyone is invited. Hallelujah. Today, that might mean the person across the aisle on the tram or across the hall at the office or across the counter at the cafe or across the desk in the classroom or across the field at the farm or across the hall in the lunchroom. Bust it up.
----
God is here.
SA Daily reading: see soldiers armoury at right.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 13, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2SR;PD)

How's your soul?
----
In PROVERBIAL LEADERSHIP I do a thing on the Navigators' directive, 'think big, start small, go deep'. Recently I heard someone suggest that many people think small, start small, and... end small. (hat tip BP)

Press in for God's heart on your issues and opportunities. Don't feel condemned for opportunities that are not on God's heart. Brengle used to say that the good is often the enemy of the best. There are so many things we COULD do but only what are God's purposes for you are what you should 'wear'.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
I read that 10% of Aussie Salvos are divorced. I assume this is adult salvos. Amazing figure. The redemptive perspective on it is that maybe we attract broken and divorced people. I hope that is a major component of the statistic. Either way, it is tragic.

Let's teach on covenant. JAC (top right) has several articles on it. Michael Ramsay (blogs at right) has heaps on it (I expect there is probably a book's worth of stuff from him). And then let's live it.
----
Holy. now.
----
From a SA news feeder, here were thre three lead salvo articles a couple of days ago:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25447332-5006787,00.html
(you don't have to look this one up but it has to do with a former salvo who sinned)

http://www.realestatesource.com.au/Victoria/Salvation-Army-Reaps-$1.95-Million-From-Riverfront-Kew-Home.html
(BIG sale of Salvo donated home - God's blessing in difficult economic times)

http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/4357211.Salvation_Army_s__Pope__lifts_spirits_during_Enfield_visit/
(this one is a scoop in that apparently the General discloses his allowance)

Three widely different subjects... what kind of image does the public pick up from this stuff? I hope it is something like - they're human, they don't put up with sin, they have favour, and they are great stewards of money.
----
Remember the poor.
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I was thinking about repentance and faith recently. We all know repentance is a change of mind and thus a change of direction. Too often when evangelising it is simpler to play up the change of direction at the expense of the change of mind. But the change of direction without a change of mind must epitomise frustration. We need Holy Spirit, when regenerating, to renew the mind.

Note, in your evangelising, it is not merely intellectual assent you are trying to win in response to your arguments - that is not the change of mind at which we aim. It is more a change in thinking, perspective, values, worldview. God's got to be in it. God help you in evangelising today.
----
God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 12, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
MEMORY VERSES (some are interested in the background on our memory verses. They are in NIV; they build a solid foundation of faith; they include enough verses for you to present a detailed BRIDGE evangelistic gospel; they combine with 11 doctrines and a Junior Soldier pledge to give you 52 weeks - a year's worth - of memory work from the forthcoming JS daily rations book [stay tuned - it is going to kick! - working title, God And Toast]):

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Mark 10:15

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33b

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit 1 Peter 3:18

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement..” Memorise this verse this week. Hebrews 9:27

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." Mark 7:37.

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation." Col 1:15.

"He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." 1 John 3:8

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
\
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11-12.

"I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." Acts 26:17b-18.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Memorise this verse this week. Colossians 2:6-7

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.". John 13:34-35

I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9

“As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:7-8.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

“Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” John 5:19

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38

“Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.”. Mark 1:17

“The harvest is the end of the age. Matthew 13:39b

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.

We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the divine and human natures are united so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.

We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the immortality of the soul, in the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, at the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Peter Lublink has started blogging again, here:

http://www.pointful.ca
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Holy. now.
----
Charles Colson writes a piece called Pragmatism Trumps Principle (note - he's reporting, not advocating):

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=11545
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Remember the poor.
----
Don't forget the4points.com with the heart/the X, the cross, and the ? (representing God loves you; you have sinned; Jesus died for you; you must decide). Why not try it out in your evangelising today?
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God is here.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 11, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2O)

How's your soul?
----
Welcome to our itnernational language readers. As we often do, we're presenting this week's memory verse in a handful of languages. This one explains that our own ways end up in death. As Danielle Strickland says, 'it's where the road goes.' All of us are sinners. And sinners sin. That's what they do. So, following your own way won't work out, won't lead to forgiveness, satisfaction, peace, purpose, love, acceptance, belonging, or eternal life. You must submit to Jesus for all of those things. Here's the verse, from Proberbs 14:12:

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12

توجد طريق تظهر للانسان مستقيمة وعاقبتها طرق الموت.

有 一 條 路 ， 人 以 為 正 ， 至 終 成 為 死 亡 之 路 。

Hay camino que al hombre le parece derecho,
pero al final, es camino de muerte.

バビロンへの流刑ののち，エコニヤはシャルティエルの父となり，シャルティエルはゼルバベルの父となり，

바벨론으로 이거한 후에 여고냐는 스알디엘을 낳고, 스알디엘은 스룹바벨을 낳고

A, i muri i te whakahekenga atu ki Papurona, ka whanau ta Hekonia ko Haratiera; ta Haratiera ko Herupapera;
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
That old Salvo Bible marking system has been stirring some interest (and faith) recently. Here it is again for those coming late to the party:

INSPECT
Insight to gain
Nugget of the passage
Sin to confess/avoid
Promise to claim
Example to follow
Command to obey
Truth to know.

Read a short passage prayerfully. Then read it again and mark the insight to gain. Read another time for th enugget, and then again for the sin, and so on, each time using a legend you create to mark it.
Holy. now.
----
Rocket launcher - this was one of many items donated recently to The Salvation Army Thrift Store (salvo stores). Here are some others: drugs, firearms, hand grenade, dog manure, grass clippings, food scraps, human remains, ashes, dead racoons, seven
live kittens etc...
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Remember the poor.
----
Someone passed on a vision: "a picture of the whole of the Army being a House of Prayer – this was global. There are no boundaries in this... This is the call to Holiness. If the principles of this document (Spiritual Life Commission) were lived in every part of our Army it will transform into what God has called it to be."
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"Does salvation travel as fast as sin? See how wickedness spreads. Talk about prairie fire - it is nothing to it! How it devours everything before it.

"Does salvation keep pave with the increase in population? Make the calculation in your most favoured Christian cities, and you will find that we are terribly behind in the race. Do we keep pace with the devils in energetic and untiring labour?

"Do we go as fast as death? Is he not always stealing a march on us?

"Oh, say no more! We'll close our ears, my comrades, to this cold, unfeeling, stony-hearted utterance of unbelief. LET US GO FASTER!" (William Booth).

Go faster in your evangelising.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: read the salvation soldiers armoury under uero blogs at right).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 10, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2AWW)

How's your soul?
----
As a hat tip to the birthday girl, here are a couple of videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbIoVziIKeo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn3fLqLCdoc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duwTVB20tpA&feature=related
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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I know that in some territories there are still a couple of more weeks of Self Denial. The Army is now in 118 countries and if cash was no issue I reckon we could be in 140 by this time next year. Now, some corps do well. Praise God. But I know a few corps that are over $100,000 - one at $150,000. Take that as a challenge. It isn't an issue of getting more self denial money than other corps. It is a question of financing the great commission. Several of the countries we could invade could be bankrolled for years on the basis of one of those corps SD totals. If your corps came in at a tidy $20,000 or so, be challenged by the $150,000 and, if you can, make up the difference - we can advance the great salvation war and win the world for Jesus.
----
Holy. now.
----
Andrew Clark (blogs at right) continues his Affirmations Series with #3 and winning the world. Give it a take.

Larry Ashcraft (blogs at right) thinks he's being liberal on his latest post but I think he's being quite orthodox. Go and see what you think at his blog.
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Remember the poor.
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Hey - I know of a guy who got saved recently. He heard the Gospel some weeks ago and was prayed for daily and met weekly in a cell. And then at his last cell he repented of his sins and put his trust in Jesus. Now, a friend invited him to the cell the first time. Someone else arranged hospitality. Another was the cell leader. Another did the teaching. And still another closed the deal. This is a great example of next fishing of cell evangelism. You don't have to line-fish. You don't have to do all the converting yourself. You can team up with your comrades. Be intentional about it, today.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: see soldiers armoury at right - euro blogs.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 9, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2MJ,JU,SC,KB)

How's your soul?
----
Big-name Army families caused some response and people explained that 'Masih' is a bit like 'Singh' for Christians (think 'Messiah') or Smith or Jones. Wikipedia suggestst that Masih is not one of the top 149 most common surnames in India.

I don't dispute the readers's point but the quick consultation with the year book biographical information locates four Singhs, eight Smiths, six Jones, six Christians, six Matondos, six Robertses, six Whites (and only two Booths), and so on. You might expect to see some generals' names. You might expect to see lots of common anglo names (Williams, Taylor, Brown, Evans, Davis, Wilson, Thomas, Johnson, etc.) - but none but those listed about hit six.

And there remain 26 Masihs, plus two retired commissioners.

I respect the writers - thanks - but maintain that in the face of the competition, Masih still wins.
----
Interestingly, that same wiki site suggests that the three most common surnames in Canada are Li, Smith, and Lam.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
And we're to reach the world with Jesus, some of us will have to be able to communnicate well in languages other than English, probably (Mandarin and Arabic come to mind as strategic languages).
----
Holy. now.
----
God wants to do some spectacular things in our midst. Let's be sure to align our priorities to His, position ourselves at His feet, and advance on our knees.
----
Those in the state of Victoria (Australia) will want to block out 20 May for FAMOUS LAST WORDS with Colonel Lyell Rader preaching and Nathan Rowe leading worship. It is an excellent combination. Tell ten friends. More surprise details soon...
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Remember the poor.
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Is there anything better than seeing someone get saved? They change their eternal address from hell to heaven. It is amazing. A beautiful thing. The enemy does everything he can to keep us from evangelising. Don't be thrown from such critical spiritual warfare as evangelism by some slimy demon. Go hard today in your evangelising.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: see soldiers armoury at right.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 8, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
I had this interesting response to the Salvo family post, yessterday:

"The power of God's word is amazing. My initial thought was to look at what's happening now in society to see God's plan in action - global breakdown of the family unit - I see a whole generation of fatherless, motherless, broken people coming to hear the truth, joining in God's Army - their energy will be like never before, because the truth becomes such a sword to them, and so real because they see it so clearly, having been starved of love.

"There's evidence of this already - young people coming to my church, rising up rapidly and doing great things in the name of Christ. They have lived their life backwards from a young age through no fault of their own, discovering the truth in their rage, and when they hear the truth their rage turns into tremendous zeal, and God is using this for his Kingdom. There will be a mass integration of the Christian church worldwide. God has it all worked out! (hat tip SO)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Well, on that same topic -big-name Army families, no one provided the answer for which I was looking. As a background (or you can just scroll down to yesterday), there are historically big-name Army family names floating around. If you are Canadian and middle-aged or older, names like Armstrong and Moulton and Merrett are amongst the prominent; Americans think of Marshall and Rader and Miller amongst others; Australians still have several Maxwells firing up. And so on (... Booth, Gauntlett, Dalziel...).

But the hands-down biggest Army name is none of those. The 2009 Year Book lists 26 names in the Biographical Information section: Masih. There are even two generations represented in the active officer corps. And in the retired Commissioners section we see Commissioners Mohan and Swarni Masih. Hallelujah.

God bless the clan.
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Holy. now.
----
Gordon Cotterill (blogging at right, and, might I remind you all, one of the earliest salvo blogs), is on about a curriculum for Christlikeness (from Dallas Willard) based on Colossians, in which you might be interested.
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Remember the poor.
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I heard some great news recently about a young guy (12) we know who got saved last year. He identified a classmate of his as a guy he wanted to try to get saved. He evangelised him last week and the boy said he wanted to think about it. So, our guy brought it up at Junior Solder prep classes and he was prayed for by the recruits. Well, it turns out that Holy Spirit was convicting him of guilt with regard to sin, righteousness, and judgement, bringing him to a godly sorrow the brings repentance and leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, nad our guy reprots that hsi buddy got saved! Hallelujah.

Why tell you this?

You don't have to be a veteran Christian, or an older Christian, or especially gifted in evangelism. The lessons from our guy seem to be that you should be Respectful, Intentional, Prayeful (RIP). Why not give a RIP for one of your friends today in your evangelising?
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: (hit the salvationist armoury at euroblogs on the roll at right).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 7, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen.
(ha2BT/ST;ha2HD/RD;hb2PB)

How's your soul?
----
The Army used to be littered with big-name Army families. Different territories had different clans. And a few transcended territories. It doesn't seem to be that way as much anymore. What do you think is the biggest Army family today? Let me know (revolution @ mmccxx.net).

I'll let you know later this week (hint, I hit the Year Book and the results are indisputable).
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Do you have any great Salvo miracles stories that we can share? If so, fire us the details at revolution @ mmccxx.net.
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Has your corps started using the new fourth edition of SALVATIONISM 101 yet? It is in a bunch of countries and many corps are using it. It is a recruit-training/soldier-preparation course. You can order yours from AUS Trade (see AUS THQ on right blogroll) or from AUS Corps Programme Department.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Recent conversation on pubs and evangelism:

FriendA - I am not very good at pub booming. In fact, I stopped doing pubs after seven years of weekly efforts resulted in one dodgy conversion. I realised that it was not a very effective mission tactic for me so I pulled the plug.

FriendB (oozing sarcasm) - Great. And that is what people who feel they are not gifted in evangeism can do, then - just pull the plug.

FriendA - sure. After those people faithfully do initiative/random/cold-call evangelism every single week for seven years, they, too, can step back and analyse the results and determine if it is a tactic worth continuing.
----
Don't forget to read up JAC60. There is a lot of juicy stuff in that, the 10th anniversary, issue.
----
Andrew Clark's second Affirmations post is up and he is testifying to holiness. You'll want to read it.
----
Holy. now.
----
"The divine breath evokes divine harmonies" (Frederick Coutts).

Kia ora.
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Remember the poor.
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Ravi Zacharias smashes atheistic arguments in THE END OF REASON. It is a short, accessible read that knocks out hindrances to people hearing the gospel (and strengthens faith of Christians). That said, apologetics has made a big comeback, as we noted last year. Though it went out of style in the 90s and into this decade, atheists and muslims have thrown out arguments to which the public is listening.

Since we have the benefit of the truth, I encourage you to dust off your apologetics arguments and try them out, as is strategic, in your evangelism, today.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: see salvationist armoury (at right under European blogs).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 6, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Andrew Clark (blogs at right) has taken up the 'Affirmations' post we did last week and is blogging on each of the nine. You will want to bookmark and tune in for his take over the next couple of weeks (you will also be interested in the video).

Andrew Bale (blogs at right) has a great bit from William Booth on how he started out. You'll be intrigued and inspired by it.

Willis Howell (blogs at right) continues to bring it on his blog with another hard-hitting take, this time on backsliding. Read it an weep.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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"The work of a Salvation Ary officer is a sentence of hard labour for life" (Bramwell Booth).

That said,

"Make your will, pack your box, kiss your girl, be ready in a week" (William Booth).

I suspect that many were called and sent in much shorter time than that back in the day. But how about today? What is keeping you from training up and offering for officership? We could use a couple of thousand cadets worldwide and the only reasons you shouldn't be one of them are; 1. if God called you to something else; 2. if you are too old or young; 3. if you haven't trained up yet; 4. if you have offered and were recommended to go home and be a good soldier.

So, tick the boxes or sign up today.
----
Holy. now.
----
If you are feeling not quite up to snuff for training college then you should pray about hitting one of The War College campuses in North America for some hardcore Salvo training. I've not seen anything better (thewarcollege.com).
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Remember the poor.
----
Carol Young (blog at right) has a nice story of a prison conversion. You may want to read it to get inspired to do your faithful, loving evangelising today. Who knows how eternity will be modified by your obedience and risk-taking today?
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Salvation armoury (blog at right)
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 5, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
AUE Congress in Sydney is called UPRISING, 5-7 June. It looks like it could be huge: http://salvos.org.au/uprising/

And we know of a handy holiness resource that could help prep all the delegates (THE UPRISING).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
"The more the door is shut the more we batter it" (GSR).
----
Holy. now.
----
We're looking for accounts of miracles in The Salvation Army for use in stimulating faith amongst salvationists. If you are game to help, please fire us a note (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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Remember the poor.
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Welcome to our international readers. This is a key Bible verse to explain the hope for all people who repent and believe in Jesus, from Romans 6:23:

لان اجرة الخطية هي موت. واما هبة الله فهي حياة ابدية بالمسيح يسوع ربنا

因 為 罪 的 工 價 乃 是 死 ； 惟 有 神 的 恩 賜 ， 在 我 們 的 主 基 督 耶 穌 裡 ， 乃 是 永 生 。

For the wages paid by Sin are death; but God's free gift is the Life of the Ages bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let's share this verse with someone today and invite them to confess their sins, stop sinning, trust Jesus for salvation, and be born again.
----
God is here.
SA Daily Reading: http://salvationarmoury.blogspot.com/
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 4, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2HC;JH;MR)

How's your soul?
----
From one of the best evangelists I know (but not an intimidating story):

"This one comes from a girl that came into my office saying, “I just want to say Thank you!” Here’s her story: “Growing up in an atheistic family, I ignored the Real Life kit (evangelistic kit distributed to students at a university) on my shelf. In April I picked up the New Testament out of curiosity. As I discovered more about the person and teaching of Jesus, I was attracted to His life. I had been drawn into a life style in the dorm that was very unattractive… In December a friend invited me to church. The only time I had gone to a church was for weddings and funerals. My parents had said so many negative things about Christians I was nervous but everyone was really friendly. More importantly that night I understood I could have a relationship with Jesus. Since then my life has completely changed. I’m free from cravings for alcohol and drugs. I have left my involvement with the occult… I was baptized in January.” She went on to say, “In case you’re wondering, those kits are making a difference! I want you to know God is using you. Thank you!” -Chris former student
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My all means let's save some.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
We're pro-life. Here is an article about a church fighting it out with its own members about this position on which traditionally it has led the way (hat tip Peter T):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30539063
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Holy. now.
----
One of the main strategies of the enemy army seems to be division in the kingdom of God. The example above is just one of many, most not publicised, fights within the Body of Christ.

Let's remember that unity is a powerful position from which to fight. Demons hate it when we love one another. Keep your eyes open this week for those things that threaten unity - dissension, bitterness, hate, slander, envy/jealousy, unhealthy competition, and more. Then counter-attack in the opposite spirit. Remember - words have power. Speak life.
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Remember the poor.
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This kind of unity attracts. Jesus figures that our love for one another will be what draws some people to Him. So, let's let people know why we are different ('look at how they love one another'). Jesus is the cause and end of that love. And the love is big enough to include all of those people curious about it. Why not explain it to someone today in your evangelising?
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading. So, what do you think? We've run through several Bible reading guides. We think, to mix it up, we'll point you to a Salvo online reading guide from our blogroll, here: http://salvationarmoury.blogspot.com/ Enjoy.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 3, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hbJH;DW)

How's your soul?
----
The new AUS Territory Corps Cadets web page is now live!

http://www.corpscadets.salvationarmy.org.au/

"As you will be aware we have relaunched Corps Cadets this year and now have over 100 involved in the new program. As part of this initiative we have had a new web page designed that is intergrated with Facebook.

"The purpose of this web page is to...
-keep the Corps Cadets who choose to sign up accountable to the program through online assessments
-allow local corps leaders to see how their students are progressing
-inform the Divisional Youth Secretary of current participants
-connect Corps Cadets across the country for support and interaction
-inform both leaders and partipants of the latest developments

You should consider picking up the new corps cadet curriculum in your territory and corps.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
One of my heroes, Fakir Singh, penned these words (SASB 780):

They bid me chose an easier path and seek a lighter cross
They bid me mingle with Heaven’s gold a little of earth’s dross
The bid me, but in vain, once more the world’s illusions try;
I cannot leave the dear old flag, ‘twere better far to die.

They say the fighting is too hard, my strength of small avail
When foes beset and friends are fled my faith must surely fail
But, O how can I quit my post while millions sin-bound lie?
I cannot leave the dear old flag, ‘twere better far to die.

They say I can a Christian be and serve God quite as well
And reach Heaven just as surely by the music of church bell;
But, O the drum and clarion call of band make my pulse fly!
I cannot leave the dear old flag, ‘twere better far to die.

I answer, life is fleeting fast, I cannot, cannot wait;
For me my comrades beckoning stand beyond the pearly gate;
I hear their hallelujahs grand, I hear their battle cry:
O do not leave the dear old flag, ‘twere better far to die.
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Holy. now.
----
If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, yet, let us highly recommend Him to you. He is the creator of the universe. And He loves you. Turn from your sins and rely on HIm. He'll forgive you for your sins (based on His death and resurrection for you). If you have questions, let us know (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
----
This week's memory verse is Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Why not memorise it and internalise it and share it with ten friends?
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Remember the poor.
----
"Telling people about Jesus is like breathing" (my friend). Breathe hard, today.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Revelation 11-22.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

May 2, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Western Australia has a provocative Red Shield campaign print ad that you can see and comment on here (hat tip Danielle Strickland):

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.campaignbrief.com/wa/2009/03/18/TSA_Girl-thumb-250x353.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.campaignbrief.com/2009/03/marketforce-creates-new-print.html&usg=__lJ4WgA29glzzdiuc_qpXe9RJXGM=&h=353&w=249&sz=84&hl=en&start=27&sig2=wlB6P7bUwDeIIE0DcNMHAQ&um=1&tbnid=4ikc5FQfON2TDM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bsalvation%2Barmy%2Bjust%2Bsalvos%2Blogo%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1&ei=uab6SafqIYf6kAWartjtBA

or just google images - the salvation army just salvos logo
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Speaking of Strickland, check her blog for the latest AND a crazy article on the court case of some human traffickers in Western Australia comparing the 'sex slaves' to AFL draftees at JUSTSALVOS blog (both at right).
----
Holy. now.
----
Oswald Chambers says that,

Abandonment is to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions.

That sounds innocuous enough. But how about if God is prompting you to stand up in the middle of your meeting and speak out a tongue?

According to Chambers, it means that you don’t have the luxury of asking whether or not the timing is appropriate, or if it will go over well and be accepted, or if the person given the interpretation will be gutsy enough to stand up and not leave you hanging, or if ‘they’ll’ still like ‘me’ afterward.

We talk loosely about reckless abandonment. But it is a lot more extreme than getting a little rowdy on a Sunday night.
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Remember the poor.
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I borrowed a book recently that is an abridged version of a longer, older book. As an old book the copyright is owned by one of those Christian literature trusts.

The foreword to this abridged version makes an astonishing admission:

The Trustees (of the book trust)… were concerned about certain aspects of (the book) as originally published. First and foremost they felt that they could not endorse the teaching that a born again, Spirit-filled Christian can at the same time be demon-possessed; and also found themselves unable to accept some of the teaching given concerning the ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’, and the aggressive warfare against the powers of darkness, either as a means of promoting revival or of hastening the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ.

These guys decide that they want to reprint the book without the meat of the content! They changed the work of some fairly well-known, influential, powerful people (there were two authors).

And let’s look at what they decided to omit. They don’t like the fact that Christians can be demon-possessed. Well, too bad. Admittedly, the term ‘possessed’ isn’t helpful. But it isn’t accurate, either, in that the Greek suggests ‘demonized’, or subject to demonic influence. Certainly Christians need teaching to warn them of this danger. Second, they don’t like the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Hmm. Finally, they aren’t in to attacking the devil.

The content they decided they’d leave in goes on and on about deception by the enemy and how we are to be very careful about false teaching. It seems that they editors followed this part of the teaching closely, in that they accepted it while shaving off all of the combustible, incendiary, revolutionary, revival-inciting content that disagreed with them.

Anyway, I found the whole exercise shocking. I wonder how much other old dead stuff is neutralized by pathetic editors? Worse yet, I wonder how often we inoculate people to salvationism by teaching and displaying a watered-down, compromising, smell-like-the-world-but-look(a little bit but as much as possible)-like-the-relatively-'successful'-fancy-church-down-the-street-church shadow version of it that denies both its potency and attractiveness?
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Why not just hit someone up with the gospel hard today? (not rhetorical - actually answer this question. If you have a reason [I mean, excuse'], it will expose some stuff in you, and that is a good thing).
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: Revelation 1-10.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

1 May 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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Did you know that there are 5723 days left in mmccxx? This is a vision to see new outposts in 2,000 cities in 200 countries in 20 years. God is blessing it. Humanly, it is not possible. But with God all things are possible. If you are burdened to start outposts, it may be useful to network with mmccxx (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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The Salvation Army in Moscow is re-registered after a 10-year court battle
On the eve of Orthodox Easter 2009, The Salvation Army in Moscow, Russia, received word that it has now officially been registered by the Department of The Ministry of Justice in Moscow. For The Salvation Army and its lawyers from the Slavic Legal Centre, this has ended a complicated 10 year process of multiple court cases, and waiting. The Leader of The Salvation Army in Eastern Europe Commissioner Wim van der Harst, proudly made the announcement to Salvation Army officers and staff
at a gathering at Territorial Headquarters stating, ‘My friends, this is a proud and joyous moment, this is a new beginning.’

The Salvation Army returned to Moscow in 1991 after a 68 year absence. Initial registration occurred in 1992 but with a new law announced in 1991, registration was withdrawn. The Russian law on Religion and Conscience was introduced which included more difficult requirement for the establishment/registration of Christian churches and re-registration of existing church charters. The re-registration of the Moscow branch of The Salvation Army followed a complex course through many court processes that ultimately led to the final appeal in the European Court of Human Rights which
unanimously ruled in favour of The Salvation Army on October 5 2006. During this time of struggle, The Salvation Army has remained true to its ministry to the poor and displaced people in Moscow.

Commissioner Van der Harst said, ‘The time for rebuilding has come. We have a good foundation on which to develop the work. There remain many homeless and needy people in Moscow. Religious freedom remains an ongoing journey as we endeavour to establish The Salvation Army in this society.

It’s time for The Salvation Army in Moscow to take a fresh grip on its faith, roll up its sleeves and work with renewed strength to win the lost in the power of our Lord and Saviour. The Salvation Army will continue to live up to the motto: "Heart to God - Hand to Man." Will you join us?’

The Territorial Commander would like to thank all the officers, soldiers and friends of The Salvation Army who have stood by us through this struggle, and through their support have helped continue the work of The Salvation Army in Moscow in many different ways. We also acknowledge the work of our lawyers with the Slavic Legal Centre who have guided us through this journey. People around the world have been praying for this day and our thanks also go to them. We praise God for answered
prayer.
www.thesalvationarmy.ru
To Read the full transcript of the European Court of Human Rights decision go to
www.eclj.org/PDF/06100506_THE_SALVATION_ARMY_v_RUSSIA_JUDGMENT.pdf
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Holy. now.
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Did you fill in the short survey on which we posted yesterday? (for those in Australia).
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Have you read JAC60 yet? Go for it (top right, and while you're at it, have at the 59 previous issues, all free). And stay tuned for a great new approach for JAC61!
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Remember the poor.
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Hey - so my buddy introduced this guy to Jesus last night, several weeks after he was met on the street by another buddy who preached the gospel to him. They connected, met a few times, prayed, Holy Spirit convicted, and now this guy has repented and believes! Hallelujah. For those who don't believe in initiative evangelism, there is the evidence.
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God is here.
SA Daily Reading: 1/2/3 John; Jude.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court