Armybarmy Blog

June 30, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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We're experimenting with Twitter.com and if you are on, feel free to follow at StephenCourt.
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Welcome to international readers. The memory verse this week, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, is a powerful blessing that indicates God's power and purpose to make each of us holy. We can be holy! If you submit your whole life to Him, this is what He wants to do in you:

واله السلام نفسه يقدسكم بالتمام ولتحفظ روحكم ونفسكم وجسدكم كاملة بلا لوم عند مجيء ربنا يسوع المسيح.

願 賜 平 安 的 神 親 自 使 你 們 全 然 成 聖 ！ 又 願 你 們 的 靈 與 魂 與 身 子 得 蒙 保 守 ， 在 我 主 耶 穌 基 督 降 臨 的 時 候 ， 完 全 無 可 指 摘 ！

「見よ，処女が妊娠し，男の子を産むだろう。彼らはその名をインマヌエルと呼ぶだろう」。この名は，訳せば，「神はわたしたちと共に」という意味である。

се, Дева во чреве приимет и родит Сына, и нарекут имя Ему Еммануил, что значит: с нами Бог.

»Se, jungfrun skall bliva havande och föda en son, och man skall giva honom namnet Emmanuel» (det betyder Gud med oss).

Nầy, một gái đồng trinh sẽ chịu thai, và sanh một con trai, Rồi người ta sẽ đặt tên con trai đó là Em-ma-nu-ên; nghĩa là: Ðức Chúa Trời ở cùng chúng ta.

And may God Himself who gives peace, make you entirely holy; and may your spirits, souls and bodies be preserved complete and be found blameless at the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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We just posted a Salvo Bible reading marking guide. Here is John Wesley's instruction on Bible reading:
"If you desire to read the scripture in such a manner as may most effectually answer this end, would it not be advisable,

1. To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose?
2. At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one?
3. To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it? In order to know his will, you should,
4. Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith; the connexion and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, Original Sin, Justification by Faith, the New Birth, Inward and Outward Holiness.
5. Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing "scripture can only be understood thro' the same Spirit whereby it was given." Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts.
6. It might also be of use, if while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts, and lives. This would furnish us with matter of praise, where we found God had enabled us to conform to his blessed will, and matter of humiliation and prayer, where we were conscious of having fallen short.

"And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation." John Wesley, Preface to Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament, EDINBURGH, April 25, 1765
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Holy. now.
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"We'll tear hell's throne to pieces and win the world for Jesus" (William Pearson).
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Remember the poor.
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Don't forget to pray before you evangelise, today (and the Bible; and take a pen and paper to mark down particulars!).
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the United/Uniting Church (with gospel truth, fear of the Lord, the same as we want God to bless The Salvation Army with).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 29, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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INSPECT - Salvo Bible marking method, has garnered some interest. For the sake of clarification, it might be good to rehearse the method. The idea is to pray and then read a short text. Then read it several more times, each time looking for a specific thing and marking it (with your own customised legend marking - circles, underlines, etc.). INSPECT stands for,

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

It runs a bit like this:
NKJV 2 John
I - v9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.
N - v4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth.
S - v7 many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.
P - v12 speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
E - v5 and now I plead with you.
C - v5 love one another.
T - v6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.

Or...

3 John
I - v4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
N - v2 I pray that you may prosper in all things and in health, just as your soul prospers.
S - v9 loves to have the preeminence.
P - If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well.
E - v7 they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
C - v11 do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.
T - v11 He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

And, having extracted specific truths from the text, you can apply them in your life today.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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General Wickberg wrote, probably about 35 years ago:
"As I consider the problems which we are facing today I confess that I stand in need of a greater grace than ever before. I need not speak of the permissive society- of the excesses of pornography and sexual license, of the oppression of nations and races, of the curse of drug-taking and the victims of acoholism. The Salvation Army cannot and will not stand aside. We are involved in this society, we suffer with the sufferers, we protest with our uniform, our songs, our lives. Nevertheless, we stand in need of all the grace that God can give to keep a stout heart and goodly proportion of that apostolic optimism that is so badly needed today. But that grace is available."

I blogged a response to this - entry August 7, 2005 (top right archives).
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Holy. now.
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I'm experimenting with twitter. If you are on it, feel free to follow StephenCourt.
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Remember the poor.
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Jesus is worth all of our lives. Let's share Him with someone today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Churches of Christ denomination.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 28, 2009. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2DD)

How's your soul?
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Knaggs blogs on millions of people without Jesus (at right).
Collinson blogs on people who attend mega churches (at right).
Noland blogs on the importance of reaching children for jesus (at right).
Thielenhaus blog on Nehemiah (at right).
Laeger blogs on STAY (spend time alone with Yahweh)- at right.
Howell blogs on the POWER of God (at right).
Brookshaw blogs on prayer and airplanes (at right).
Bale blogs on holiness - an excerpt from his forthcoming book (at right).
Burne-Jones blogs on religious institutions (at right).
Ramsay blogs on 2 Kings (at right).
Brindle blogs on open theism (at right).

And so on...
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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If you are on twitter, feel free to follow StephenCourt.
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We're now receiving contributions for JAC62 (revolution @ mmccxx.net) - don't forget to read JAC1-61.
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Holy. now.
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I heard recently that a guy wanted to get saved so much that he jumped off the balcony to respond to the appeal to the front of the hall. He broke both his feet. That is conviction! God give us all similar conviction.
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I recently heard of a church, maybe five years old, that has had more than 9,000 respond to salvation invitations. Hallelujah.
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Every nation in this generation - saved by Jesus. MMCCXX contributes...
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Remember the poor.
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My friend was recently recounting that there is a burning in her bones, a tightness in her chest, to evangelise. She has a supernatural burden for souls. God give us all such a burden to spur on our evangelising today, please.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Church of God in Christ.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 27, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
(hb2JHE)

How's your soul?
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(press release) The General Calls The Salvation Army to Prayer for the International Conference of Leaders

HAVING announced to the Army world in February the convening of the International Conference of Leaders to be held in London from 7-13 July 2009, General Shaw Clifton once again invites Salvationists around the world to uphold in prayer the senior leaders who will attend from every corner of the globe.

As previously indicated, the total number of senior leaders attending will be 135, representing every territory and command in the five zones as well as International Headquarters. To assist Salvationists to focus their prayers meaningfully, the General has indicated that the following issues and themes will feature in the deliberations:

- working for Kingdom growth through the Army's growth and through the establishing of Army work and witness in new lands;
- the building up of God's Kingdom through an ever-deepening commitment to Christ;
- the God-given role of Salvationists in working for social relief, social justice and human rights;
- the impact of global financial recession upon the Army;
- the challenge of working in Muslim cultures;
- understanding current cultural trends in relation to gender issues, the younger generation and other Christian bodies;
- the ongoing winning and discipling of children and whole families for Christ;
- the constant need to prepare the future leaders of the Army on every continent;
- a re-affirmation of the role of all Salvationists in the building of God's Kingdom on earth.

The delegates will spend time not only in formal discussions but also in prayer, worship and the study of the Scriptures.

There will be daily news releases issued to the Army from the conference venue located to the west of London.

The General anticipates that the conference will wish to issue a statement to all Salvationists soon after it concludes.

In order to serve as a constant reminder to delegates that the Army's primary purpose is to introduce people to the Saviour, the focal point of the conference room will be a mercy seat together with a large cross, prompting delegates to think of the crucified, risen and ascended Lord.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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We're experimenting with twitter so if you are on there, feel free to try out StephenCourt.
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Holy. now.
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Covenant and holiness are the keepers for The Salvation Army. There are heaps of other great characteristics of The Army, and tonnes of great services we provide. Praise God. Covenant and holiness hold all of the other stuff together and enable it all to make sense. (yes, you are right to read that without covenant and holiness it doesn't all hold together and it doesn't all make sense)
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Remember the poor.
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It is encouraging to be around evangelistic warriors. I recently saw such a person young kid) in action with testimony, gospel, appeal, and apologetics. You don't have to be a certain age or possess heaps of knowledge or skill. You only need Holy Spirit in your life, guiding you. May He guide you in your evangelising today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Lutherans.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
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You'll want to check out Commissioner Knaggs's new blog. The whole site is almost completely up and running but the blog is happening and has some helpful new features. The Techie TC continues to lead the way (he's well over 11,000 followers on twitter).
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His example has led me to experiment with twitter. If you are on, feel free to try out StephenCourt.
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On that note, some may want to check out cooliris.com and spezify.com. Both are powerful sites to help you stay connected. Try typing in "Salvation Army" into cooliris with the google function and see what happens (hat tip M).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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(hat tip Sean Attard for some excumenical ideas)
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Most of you will know that we pray for the General every day at lunchtime. That means that he is covered in prayer all the time (across the different time zones). I'm just reminding you (pray for the General and our comrades around the world at lunchtime).
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24.7.5 is a network of non-stop prayer across the Five SA zones including 16 SA colleges. If your college is not involved, why not join? (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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And, we're now receiving contributions to JAC62. (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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And, since we're throwing around the email address, it is also the place to comment.
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Holy. now.
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"Every hour and every power for Christ and duty." High standard and huge testimony of primitive salvationists. Most of us blush when we hear it now, or make excuses about balance and burn out. Other throws hour standards up, aiming for a high level of commitment. But this is only a transitional measure on the way to every hour and every power for Christ and duty. Let's not allow the world to impose, any longer, its standards on expectations and motivations.
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Remember the poor.
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The keys to the Kingdom (we Christians have them) were, according to Ungers Bible Dicitionary, used to control who gets to see the King. That's what we do with the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we preach the Gospel, people have access to the King. But when we neglect to preach it, we deny them access to King Jesus and forgiveness and eternal life. Use the key today (hat tip Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth).
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Orthodox!
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 25, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2TGT;DE)

How's your soul?
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A Isaiah 59:11b-18 Prayer

We hope for justice, but it evades us. We grope for salvation that is way out of our reach. For our sins are heaped up on Your doorstep, calling through the door to accuse us. We know our sins off by heart:
Rebelling against You,
Denying You, Yahweh;
Turning our backs on You;
Speaking oppression;
Inciting revolt;
Conceiving deceit;
Moaning malice.

Justice is beaten backward. Righteousness is banished to the sidelines. Truth has stumbled in the public square. Equity is outlawed.

Truth is gone and if we renounce iniquity we are targeted.

From Your vantage point, Yahweh, You’re displeased that there was no justice. You’re flabbergasted that there was no champion to intervene on behalf of the oppressed.

So, You, Yourself, stepped in, leading with Your mighty arm to save, stimulated by Your sense of justice.

(Do it again!)

Put on righteousness as Your body armour and don salvation’s helmet. Clothe Yourself in garments of vengeance and wrap Yourself in zeal’s cloak.

Everyone needs to pay for what they do: fury on Your adversaries, just reward on the wicked.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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"For weeks I walked in agony of mental and spiritual suffering that is hard to describe, if not impossible... Then I saw that these must be the devil, and instantly it was as though an octopus loosened his long arms from around my mind and flew away." (Commssioner Samuel Logan Brengle)

Commissioner Frederick Booth-Tucker’s testimony: “Being convinced that this was God’s will, even my sanctification, I was enabled to break off all the devil’s bonds and rejoice in full salvation.”

One of the best salvos I know (very) occasionally casually mentions that she kicked a demon out of her life (oppressed, not possessed). She and Brengle and Booth-Tucker - greathearts all - dealt with demons in their lives AS Christians. Maybe some of the rest of us ought to climb down off the throne of dodgy doctrine on this one and kick some demons ourselves (and, when applicable, out of ourselves). As Catherine Booth exhorts:

"This is what poor humanity wants the world over. THEY WANT PEOPLE WHO CAN CAST THE
DEVIL OUT- people who have in them the Holy Ghost power to do it. Oh, will you be such a one?"
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Holy. now.
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Rubicon (bottom right) is moving to the next stage of existence in August. Big hat tip to the Ryan brothers for starting the site and best hopes to Bruce Redman who will be taking over in several weeks.
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Remember the poor.
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The International Conference of Leaders meets in a couple of weeks in England. What a strategic time for God to work the supernatural! Let's join in praying that He will be sovereign in the meetings, that He will prepare each person He will visit the delegates miraculously, and that He will transform The Army eternally.
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Let's ask God to lead us to someone, today, who wants to know and follow Him.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Congregationalists.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 24, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2A/JN;RL/J-CC)

How's your soul?
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Some of you twitter. I'm experimenting with it so if you'd like to follow, try StephenCourt.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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The future of The Salvation Army? Here it is, straight from Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle:

http://www.raptureready.com/resource/brengle/ancient23.html

(basically, if love leaks out, we're a dead carcass).
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Holy. now.
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Check out Gordon Cotterill on Mission's False Dichotomy (an occasional series of his -blogging at right in the European section).

JustSalvos blog (also at right) has a couple of humbdingers as well.
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Remember the poor.
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Stand Like The Brave

God’s trumpet is sounding
To arms! Is the call
More warriors are wanted
To help on the war;
My King’s in the battle,
He’s calling for me
A salvation soldier for Jesus I’ll be

Stand like the brave with thy face to the foe
On land and water my colours I’ll show

Through ten thousand battles
With Jesus I’ll go
In danger I’m certain
He’ll take care of me
His Blood and Fire soldier forever I’ll be

I’ll fight to the last with the Lord’s sword and shield
And count it an honour to die in the field
In death and the grace there is victory for me
A salvation soldier in Glory I’ll be

The war will go on til the world is possessed
The Salvation Army Jehovah has blessed
More heroes of faith on the roll we shall see
The Salvation Army’s the Army for me.
(Frederick Booth-Tucker verses, Fanny Crosby chorus)
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One of the 10,000 battles (above) is quite likely today as you confront enemy powers who bind some poor sinner. God help you. Stay close to Jesus.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Methodists.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 23, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2JR)

How's your soul? Here is the General's new pastoral letter...
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PASTORAL LETTER FOURTEEN

LEADERS

Dear Fellow Salvationists,

This Pastoral Letter comes to you with my warmest greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ and with my prayers for each of you. The Lord is using the Army in wonderful ways. We seek to be faithful to the divine impulse to go out into the world representing Jesus Christ to all we meet. My constant prayer for you is that God will use you, just as he uses all who are faithful to him regardless of their denominational affiliation. My Fellow Salvationists, you are key players in a mighty Christian host of believers scattered across the globe. I hold you all before the Lord in prayer as I write to you. God has a part for you to play in his great plan of salvation.

The theme of this letter is Leadership.

There is a deep and true sense in which all Christians are leaders. Often we use the word 'leader' to mean a person in high position or with authority over others. This is a legitimate use of the word, but for now let me suggest that we can use it with a wider, more inclusive, meaning.

You are a leader just where God has placed you. You can influence other lives, leading people to consider the things of Christ. You can lead others into the realisation there is more to life than selfishness or the pursuit of pleasure. You can be the sanctified leader when someone suggests that you engage with them in some doubtful activity. You can lead when others do not sense someone's hurt, or another's need. You can take the lead when others stand by idly or are in confusion as to the way forward in a time of crisis.

To be a leader like this does not require a special rank or position, or any kind of formal authorisation. Each believer in Jesus is called to be a leader like this. All Christians are called to be leaders.

The very fact that we are known to be in the Army can sometimes make other people have expectations of us that mean we will often need to show initiative and leadership more than others. Our uniforms can result in expectations like this. There is a deep sense in which the wearing of Salvation Army uniform says to others that the wearer is ready to take responsibility in the unexpected moment, to take the lead in the unlikely situation.

In fact, there is a sense in which we are an Army of leaders. We each have a leadership function to carry out. Let us not minimise this or shrink from it out of shyness or fear. The Lord who calls us is able to accomplish through us everything he wills and wishes. The Holy Spirit is our guide and our helper.

Without diminishing in any way this 'leadership' role of all believers, let me also mention those who hold heavy leadership burdens in the Army because of their rank or appointment as officers. On Tuesday, 7 July 2009 London will host a gathering of the Army's most senior officers. An International Conference of Leaders like this takes place every few years. I seek your prayers for those who will gather with me. They are spiritual leaders like you, in the deep sense I have tried to outline above, but they are also leaders in the organisational sense in terms of the senior responsibilities they carry within the Army.

We shall number about 140 and will be together for seven days. Let me mention the two most important things we will do in that week: we will pray together, especially for you and your fellow Salvationists, and we will study the Scriptures together, waiting upon God for his divine direction and impulse.

We will also take a warm-hearted but hard-headed look at the state of the world, at the readiness of the Army in 118 countries to engage with the modern world, and at the need to see far into the future to discern God's way forward for his Salvation Army.

Please, please pray about this gathering. Let me give you the dates again: 7 - 13 July 2009. Perhaps you can enter these dates into your prayer diary or into your devotional schedule so that you can influence the deliberations through prayer. That would be wonderful! Perhaps you could covenant with the Lord to hold a particular participant, perhaps your own leader, before the Lord each day of the conference. What a difference you could make in that way!

God bless you in your own local leadership, both in your community and in your corps. Every soldier is a leader for God and the gospel. I pray that you will be used to lead others into faith in Jesus as their Saviour. I pray that you will be used to lead others eventually to their eternal reward when we shall see Jesus in Heaven. What a day that will be!

I commend you to the perfect love of Christ.

I pray for you daily.

Sincerely in Jesus,

Shaw Clifton

General
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Charismatics.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 22, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2FT;JR)

How's your soul?
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Welcome to our international readers. The memory verse this week - 1 John 3:8 - speaks of our relation with the devil and how the Lord Jesus Christ comes to destroy the devil's works, freeing us up to live GOd's purposes for us. It is an important lesson for all of us:

Кто делает грех, тот от диавола, потому что сначала диавол согрешил. Для сего-то и явился Сын Божий, чтобы разрушить дела диавола.

죄를 짓는 자는 마귀에게 속하나니 마귀는 처음부터 범죄함이니라 하나님의 아들이 나타나신 것은 마귀의 일을 멸하려 하심이니라

罪を犯す者は悪魔に属しています。悪魔ははじめから罪を犯してきたからです。このことが終わるために，神の子は現われたのです。それは，彼が悪魔の業をうち砕くためです。

犯 罪 的 是 屬 魔 鬼 ， 因 為 魔 鬼 從 起 初 就 犯 罪 。 神 的 兒 子 顯 現 出 來 ， 為 要 除 滅 魔 鬼 的 作 為 。

من يفعل الخطية فهو من ابليس لان ابليس من البدء يخطئ. لاجل هذا أظهر ابن الله لكي ينقض اعمال ابليس.

He who is habitually guilty of sin is a child of the Devil, because the Devil has been a sinner from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for the purpose of undoing the work of the Devil.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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(from Colonel Henry Gariepy's desk...)

"When we hear the world news we are led to feel “The worst is yet to come.” But when we read the Bible we can know that “The best is yet to be!”

"The most awesome event of history yet to come is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! No less than 318 references in the 216 chapters of the New Testament, 1 of 30 verses, and 23 of 27 NT books proclaim the Second Coming. Paul in his 13 epistles affirms this promise no less than 50 times. The very last words of Jesus in the Bible, repeated three times states, declare “I am coming soon!” (Rev. 22:7,12, 20). The Second Coming is not hinted, it is highlighted in the Bible.

"We serve a risen Savior who one day will return in the grand climax of the ages. History is His Story and the final chapter will be the best of all. So when we hear the bad news, as we do so often, let’s remember the good and greatest news – our Lord and Savior will return, and it will be coronation day for his followers."
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Holy. now.
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Have you read JAC61 yet? (top right) We are taking submissions for JAC62 now at revolution @ mmccxx.net
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Speaking of mmccxx - it continues to grow... God is on the move. Hallelujah.
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Remember the poor.
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Jesus uses normal Christians like you and me to 'undo' the works of the devil (from 1 John 3:8 above). Why not ask Him for some 'undoing' opportunities today? You could share the 'best is yet to be' news from Gariepy above...
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Pentecostals.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 21, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2DS;hb2LN)

How's your soul?
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Picking up from yesterday's post...

God’s big idea is that the ‘invisible people’, the fragile, marginalized, hurting, dispossessed and oppressed individuals who are more damned than born into this world, are ‘people people’. Like with that unnamed woman (read: ‘invisible person’) who’d been bleeding for 18 years who Jesus healed and renamed a daughter of Israel (read: ‘people person’) God actually provides a way for invisible people to become ‘people people’. That’s good news!

One key way He makes invisible people into ‘people people’ is by bringing about justice.

The Hebrew word for 'justice' is mishpat, meaning a verdict. This extremely important concept appears more than 400 times in the Old Testament. If these are God’s senses, then justice is His sight. While justice is famously symbolized as being blind to partiality, with statues on courthouses blindfolded, God unwraps the blindfold to see the plight of the marginalized. Through justice, God sees. Unlike the American tripartite- legislative, executive, and judicial- branches of government, the meaning of this word comprises all the functions of government, as well as the full range of meaning of the English word ‘justice’.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Like a River
Amos 5:21-27

Our celebrations disgust and nauseate You. The smell of our gatherings is sickening. Our burnt offerings and grain offerings are unacceptable to You, and You won’t even consider our special peace offerings.

You’ve had enough of our worship songs and You can’t bear to listen to another one of our melodies.

Your desire is this: Let justice roll down like a waterfall and righteousness like an ever-flowing, never-failing stream.
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Holy. now.
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Shall Not the Judge of the Entire Earth Judge with Justice?
Genesis 18:23-32

(back story)
Abraham approached the Lord, overlooking Sodom, a city doomed for destruction:

“Are You really going to wipe out all the righteous people along with the wicked? What if You find 50 good people – will You spare the whole city? Surely You won’t annihilate everyone, all the righteous people right along with the evil! You won’t treat the good and the evil exactly the same!

Shall not the Judge of the entire earth judge with justice?

You replied, “If I find 50 righteous people in Sodom, the whole city is off the hook, all because of those good people.”

Abraham didn’t leave it at that: “I’m a pile of dust and ashes, but I’ve made a start, so how about this? If Your count only reaches 45, will You destroy everyone just because You came up five short?

You replied. “I’ll spare the city if I can scare up 45 people.”

“What if there are only 40?”

You replied. “If I can find 40 righteous people in that city, I will not raze it.”

Abraham pleaded, “Yahweh, please don’t squash me, but suppose the righteous census counts only 30 good people?”

You replied, “30 righteous people will save the city.”

Abraham continued, “I know I’m going out on a limb here, but, Yahweh, what if the whole city contains only 20 righteous people?”

You replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of 20 good people.”

Finally, Abraham said, “Yahweh, please withhold Your anger one last time. What if there are only 10 righteous people?”

You replied, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”
----
Colonel Gariepy's 30th book comes out called CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION - it is a one-volume history of The Salvation Army. He's probably sold more than a quarter of a million copies in his day. Why not consider adding to the total?
----
Remember the poor.
----
A Christian guy I know brought his friend to cell last week. The Gospel was preached and he testified. Opportunity was given for repentance and faith and he persuaded his friend to get saved. They went to another room and he introduced him to Jesus. Praise God. He is 11. Why not try that tactic in evangelising, today?
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Baptists.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 20, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
(hb2AS;JC)

How's your soul?
----
Have you read JAC61 (the USS edition) yet? It is top right.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Reports are that one first generation Junior Soldier recruit, during a CO interview to determine suitabbility for enrollment, when asked why he wanted to become a Junior Soldier, answered, 'to kill the devil'.

This is not far off 1 John 3:8 - the reason the Son of God was to destroy the devil's work.

Hallelujah. God help him and his comrades.
----
Holy. now.
----
Jesus did say that we’d always have the poor with us (Mark 14:7). That apparent slip of the tongue has been misinterpreted and misused ever since. We’ve misused it to reject participation in the great reclamation operation that started when Jesus parachuted into enemy territory- earth. We figure, “What can I do for the starving kids in Africa? Jesus said we’d always have them.” And we’ve misinterpreted it sometimes, twisting it to make poverty somehow noble, when it really just plain sucks.

Whereas Eastern Christianity and the monastic tradition have recognized the spiritual benefits of freedom from ‘things’, certain streams of Western Christianity have somehow hallowed poverty, partly because it runs so counter to the prevailing ethic of consumerism. But what is so blessed about being poor? We don’t get it, so we categorize it with celibacy, martyrdom, and some of those other gifts that we respect but really don’t want ourselves! But the blessing isn’t in the form of a gift. The poor are not blessed intrinsically as poor people. They are blessed when they are poor because their poverty graphically shouts out to them the need for something more.

Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit because they are poor in spirit.” He did not think, “What a fine thing it is to be destitute of every spiritual attainment or quality. It makes people worthy of the kingdom.”… Those poor in spirit are called ‘blessed’ by Jesus, not because they are in a meritorious condition, but because, precisely in spite of and in the midst of their ever so deplorable condition, the ruler of the heavens has moved redemptively upon and through them, by the grace of Christ.

Yes, apparently we’ll always have the poor amongst us, but this is more a clarion call to warfare against evil than an excuse for comfortable carnality.

God’s big idea is that the marginalized are people, too . Ralph Neighbour Jr. offers three categorizations of people in THE ARRIVAL KIT: ‘people people’, ‘machine people’, and ‘landscape people’. ‘People people’ are those we know and care about as people; ‘machine people’ are those whose efforts we appreciate for how they help us; and ‘landscape people’ are just extras in the movie of our lives. The Western Church needs to add another category, because we’ve been successful at hiding a massive collection of people from our view, and the result has been, ‘out of sight, out of mind’. How about ‘untouchables’? Oh wait, that’s been used. Maybe we’ll call them the invisibles.
----
Remember the invisibles.
----
God's big idea is not just a theoretical proposition. It applies to the marginalised in your community. Why not share this spectacular news with them so that they can get saved, today, in your evangelising.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Presbyterians.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 19, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
I attended an interesting prayer meeting recently. Here is the order of meeting (hat tip Jame T):

Prophetic Prayer Games

The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy... everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” Today we are going to prophesy over each other by asking God what He wants to say to others then we’ll tell them. God may give you a Bible passage, a word, a picture or vision, or even a message, or nothing and that is ok. We can only give what we get! The games are there to guide us in our prayer times…

Tag (will be ongoing and for everyone in prayers today)
As everyone is praying in his or her group one person (selected by James) will start by being the tagger. This person will tag someone (anyone in the room) by giving them a word from God. That person then has to go and tag someone else with a word from God. The game will go the whole time…

Piggy in the Middle (Do this in your groups)
Get one person (the piggy) to stand up in the middle of the group. Everyone is then to ask God for a word to give them. Once you have given the word, pray into it. Take it in turns praying for everyone in your group.

Pin the tail on the donkey (Do this in your groups)
Get one person to sit down on a chair facing away from the group and to shut their eyes. Then the group picks someone from the group for the person on the chair to pray and ask God for a word. Do not let the person on the seat know who has been picked. The person on the chair shares what they hear God saying. Take this in turns. (We are not trying to guess who we are praying for, rather this helps us only to worry about what God is saying without our own thoughts and opinions getting in the way)

Sardines (Do this if you run out of people to pray for in your group)
This game is actually nothing like sardines; I just couldn’t think of another name for it. Ask God to give you a word for someone, don’t specify for who, then once you have the word go and give it to them. (You might even need a phone to do this)
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Meanwhile, Andrew Clark has a thoughtful take on what we're all about - you'll want to check it out (blogs at right).
----
Holy. now.
----
Willis Howell has another gem over at his blog (right side, American blogs).
----
Cceck out justsalvos.com again for a refresher on the battle for mercy and justice.
----
I attended an outpost meeting recently and the appeal was one of those 'die to self'-type deals in which people lay down on the floor and are covered. They repent and then rise to a new life. There were a dozen or more people covered in large Salvation Army flags - quite a sight. Praise God for what He is doing in this new outpost!
----
Remember the poor.
----
I know someone who had a salvation anniversary (or 'new' birthday) this week. What a fantastic occasion, being able to reflect on God's mercy and faithfulness! Try to keep the future in mind - forgiveness, grace, peace, purpose, fellowship, purity, power, and so much more - that the people you evangelise today can experience if you faithfully and effectively present a compelling Gospel and God convicts them of their guilt and they, in godly sorrow, repent and believe.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Anglicans.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 18, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
You might be surprised how many people just go through the motions. They grew up in The Salvation Army and, as expected, became Junior Soldiers, then Senior Soldiers, went into uniform, became Corps Cadets, inevitably picked up a brass instrument (or tambourine) somewhere along the way, all part of being socialised along the pathway of duty.

I don't know how many uniformed people there are who are not saved. I don't know ho many who actually believe that because of their actions they will be saved.

If you think you might be one of them, you probably are. Jesus fought the good fight for you. He died on the cross for your sins. You can't get into heaven on your parents' coat-tails. It is YOUR sins that will keep you out of heaven. And no amount of SA work (kettles, Red Shield, firing cartridges, teaching Sunday School, participating in the sections, showing up at open airs, etc.) can make up for your sin. Only the blood of Jesus covers sin. Repent of your sins today - right now - and trust Jesus for your salvation. Follow Him. Obey Him. Tell someone you trust that this has happened. Start getting discipled. Make up for lost time.
----
Speaking of blood covering sins, one of the old Methodists liked to say, 'the blood only covers what we uncover'. That means we have to confess our sins. That doesn't necessarily mean standing up at the holiness meeting and spilling our guts (though I have seen that happen to good effect on occasion). But it does include an uncovering before God. And it should in most cases include an uncovering before a trustworthy soldier. There is so much freedom in honest vulnerability that the devil is probably going to do whatever possible to keep you from reading this and weighing it in your heart. But press in.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Two goals from two soldiers:

A
- "to be so obedient to Christ that literally all of my thoughs are obedient to Him";
- "to be more at home in the heavenly realm that the earthly" (see 2 Corinthians 5).

B
- "to love Jesus more than anyone else does;
- "to win the world for Jesus."

Worthy goals. What purposes and goals has God deposited in you?
----
Holy. now.
----
Check out Phil Laeger's blog (at right) on 'a steady wish... and more' (disclaimer - it is on love).

And see Andrew Bale on several challenging topics.

Bale also links to a site with more than a thousands REGAL Salvation Army recordings. This is an absolute treasure, and you can visit it here:

http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/

(it is part of Salvo Ian Barton's site: http://www.regalzonophone.com/ )
----
Remember the poor.
----
Why not check on comrades around your corps from whom you haven't heard a convincing testimony in recent months (years?) to make sure of their salvation?
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Catholics.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 17, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2MH)

How's your soul?
----
Impact of economy on trafficking (hat tip John M):

http://m.cnn.com/cnn/ne/world/detail/312935
----
The effect of the economy on Kroc (hat tip NY Times):

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/us/15salvation.html?ref=business
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Melbourne Stats (hat tip Transforming Melbourne)
3,600,00 people live in Melbourne (and growing about 800,00 a year)
· 300,000 at church weekly - 150,000 of these attend Catholic Churches
· 65,000 of all attenders are aged over 75 (163,000 are over 55)
· 68,000 church attenders are under 34 years!!
· Churches report about 5,000 come to faith each year
· There is a net loss of 4,800 from the church each year

God help us.
----
Holy. now.
----
I saw some stats recently on the AUS territory. It turns out that candidate recruitment has increased from 1/720 SS/JS/Ad to 1/500 SS/JS/Ad in the last 15 years. That is a significant improvement in cadet attraction. And it is timely, as well, since the the SS/JS/Ad numbers have plummeted about 5,000 during that period. Good on the candidate recruiters.
----
Remember the poor.
----
The challenge on candidate recruitment is that the plummeting officer numbers (they fell during the last 15 years at a similar rate to SS/JS/Ad decline) mean fewer soldiers (according to the stats - though, praise God, in the last short while, statistics have increased!).

What is a short-term solutions?
-Hundreds and possibly thousands of you reading this can sign up for officership.
-Hundreds and possibly thousands of you reading this can sign up for soldiership.
-Most of you can whole-heartedly recruit people in your corps to officership and soldiership.
----
Check out thewarcollege.com
----
Read JAC61 (top right).
----
Ramsay (blogs at right) in his June 15 post celebrates screaming kids who scared off the enemy. I remember reading something about that in Psalm 8. Hallelujah. Let's lift up our voices for God - who know who'll hear and listen and what impact it will have?
----
And why not try to use similar recruiting techniques inspired above in your evangelising, today? (I was thinking the soldier recruiting, but feel free to apply the raised voices)
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 16, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2NB)

How's your soul?
----
JAC61 - the United States Southern Territory issue, is blessing the multitudes (top right). And their leadership is stirring imitation. Look for other guest-edited editions in the future. If your territory is interesst, please contact revolution @ mmccxx.net. In the meantime, read JAC! Let's all catch a bit of that USS zeal, confidence, system, and success!
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Did you read about the goal of 2,000 cadets worldwide? It is double the current numbers, and it is not unreasonable. Many of the African territories could double their intake tomorrow if they had the money to train the cadets and the money to sustain them upon commissioning. So, the West can help there. And the larger western territories should be able to make up the difference (1,000) themselves (USC fire up a thousand cadets; USE add a thousand cadets; C+B...).

How about you? Are you a keen soldier not currently engaged in the vocational dreams God has embraced for you? Train up and offer. Call your CO and divisional candidates secretary today.
----
Holy. now.
----
A few days ago we posted on the secret of retired corps officers - visitation. We did not mean to omit other keys like prayer. One reader made this observation:

"I was reading your Saturday Blog about how the retired officers who get called back into active duty for corps coverage keep things simple, i.e. visitation, and don’t get hung up with the bells and whistles that associate modern corps. I’ll go you one simpler: Our officers, ([they were] called out of retirement to take over _______ for the past [several] months or so) are set to leave as the permanent officers arrive [soon].

"During their time here, they have lit a fire (well I guess the Holy Spirit lit it, but the[y] gathered the kindling). They have taught a “simple” message of Holiness, and have had response at the mercy seat most weeks. [The CO] in his sermon last week stated that despite his 50 years as an officer and his love for the army, the day we stop being a Holiness movement is the day he seeks another church. Holiness leads to all the other important stuff. Can’t get much simpler than that. (hat tip JD)
----
Holiness is the solution to every problem.
----
Booth-Tucker Institute is on as we speak. If you aren't there, you can pray for it and get in on the blessings.
----
Remember the poor.
----
I heard some good stories recently of salvos praying for souls and God answering in miiraculous ways. Let's believe Him. Let's take their example and ask in faith. Let's see what God wants to do on the soul-saving front, today, and the co-labour with Him!
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 15, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2MM)

How's your soul?
----
Welcome to international readers. Here is a classic teaching verse from the apostle Paul who wrote the followers of Jesus who lived in Colosse (Colossians 1:15). It is also this week's memory verse:

Kterýž jest obraz Boha neviditelného a prvorozený všeho stvoření.

sepse në të u krijuan të gjitha gjërat, ato që janë në qiejt dhe ato mbi dhe, gjërat që duken dhe ato që nuk duken: frone, zotërime, principata dhe pushtete; të gjitha gjërat janë krijuar me anë të tij dhe në lidhje me të.

الذي هو صورة الله غير المنظور بكر كل خليقة.

愛 子 是 那 不 能 看 見 之 神 的 像 ， 是 首 生 的 ， 在 一 切 被 造 的 以 先 。

Lequel est l'image de Dieu invisible, le premier-né de toutes les créatures.

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation." Col 1:15.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
This is a great verse because it affirms that Jesus is God. In this multi-religious society it is tempting to water down our beliefs to make them palatable to those who think differently than us. So we find the lowest common denominator (usually 'higher power' but occasionally 'god') and run with that.

And because the idea of Jesus being God is offensive to everyone but followers of Jesus we tone it down, omit it, and, in some cases, over time, forget it ourselves. It's tragic.
----
Holy. now.
----
He is God. It actually simplifies evangelism with Muslims, who seem taught from primary school that God must have had a wife to get a son and are completely closed off to further discussion about Jesus being the Son of God. It is more helpful to bypass 'Son of God' and affirm that Jesus is GOD and that there is only one God.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Why not try this in your evangelising today?
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
----
So far this Sunday I've had Laeger, Strickland, and Paul Moulds. Top flight lineup on any conference card. Praise God. You might not have that type of thing but the bottom line is that God shows up.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
I heard about a corps that is out on the streets six nights a week. It reminded me of the Toronto Blessing, which, when in full gear, had meetings six nights a week. And that reminded me of Railton's law: "an open-air service and an indoor services- at least one of each- at every station, every night." One was revival, the other was fighting to start one. And the law was keeping it going.
----
Holy. now.
----
Now, some people complain that Railton's law is ridiculous in today's culture. But the masses who attended Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship six nights/week and the faithful who hit the streets for Jesus six nights/week seem to embrace the schedule. Maybe the complaints are from those who are so immersed in the culture that they cannot see the forest for the trees (o, to mix a metaphor have been boiling in the water from room temperature so they haven't noticed that they are about to die).
----
Remember the poor.
----
Years ago there was a terrible massacre that left a scar on the psyche of the nation. When family members were allowed back into the crime zone there were a hoard of government trained professional counsellors prepared to meet with them. Every single person veered off to speak with the uniformed salvos and left the pros twiddling their thumbs.
----
On a similar note, at a big conference met on suicide. Hundreds of the country's experts were gathered. One lady showed up who though the conference was for those tempted to commit suicide. She went to the front and began to tell her story, asking for help. The leader looked out over the crowd and asked the uniformed salvationist to come and help the lady.
----
Soldier up.
----
All kinds of people want to get saved. Try to pitch them a clear and convincing gospel today.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 13, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2JPDT;HW).

How's your soul?
----
I heard recently about a corps that started in a prison and had 50 + soldiers, a corps council (CSM, et al), a CO, and everything. The TC even went to do enrollments.

Praise

the

Lord.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
That example is a great challenge to every staff officer, every chaplain, every social officer, and every soldier to initiate, to dream, to fight with all His energy that works so powerfully in (us). God help us.
----
Holy. now.
----
Do you want the key to advancing the salvation war? Someone told me recently.

visitation.

Sure. I know of a place where retired officers often get three month assignments filling in as COs. It seems expected and inevitable that those corps advance. Why? Well, it turns out that old officers were trained to visit. And so they visit. They don't seem too caught up in paperwork or fancy looking shows or clever thoughts from the microphone or the latest technology or philosophical trend or growth method. They just do what they know works. (yes, they evangelise and pray)

They visit.

Great idea. Maybe we should all try it.
----
Some of you won't know that the Holy Land Congress in the 80s had 1,500 salvos gathered. It sounds prophetic. Has the time come for a full-scale invasion?
----
Politics and religion and the decline of Christianity? See here (hat tip Genevieve Peterson):

http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=13462
----
Remember the poor.
----
Athiests are targeting your children (well, if you live in England; hat tip Michael Ramsay):

http://renewnetwork.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html#3334024493696264406
----
Why not visit someone today and testify and tell them the gospel in a compelling manner?
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 12, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2CM;JB;GP)

How's your soul?
----
I just heard that a corps at which I used to soldier is opening an outpost next month. Hallelujah! God has provided generously for their needs and they are going for it in bold faith! Hallelujah! We went north to invade when I was soldiering there and now they are moving south. Great news. And you can probably participate in some new outpost initiatives near where you normally fight. Why not pray it up and talk to your CO?
----
I saw an amazing map of England with a detailed description of a salvo evangelistic campaign. It was published in the War Cry so that everyone knew what was coming. It included the General's meetings and all kinds of brigades deployed across the country to in a great soul-saving campaign. The date?

May 13, 1933.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
I was at a candidates event recently with 63 prospective candidates. I think the territory is shooting for 52 cadets (double current 1st year session) and so the crowd was asked, 'when you hear that we're looking for 52 candidates and there are 63 people here, do you immediately count yourself among the 52 or among the 11?'

In a similar way, God is calling for some great hearts to step out of comfort and mediocrity in the great salvation war. When you hear that call, do you place yourself among the zealous and brave who respond in earnest, or among those with every excuse in the book for maintaining the status quo?
----
Holy. now.
----
BTI - Booth-Tucker Institute, starts next week in Vancouver. Leaders from around the world have gathered in the slums for this incarnational refresher and some supernatural spiritual impact. If you haven't booked your flights you are too late for this year, but in time to apply for 2010 (see thewarcollege.com).
----
Remember the poor.
----
Have you checked out the blog roll and other resources we list on the righthand side of this page? We keep it up to date, deleting sites that are not active, so as not to waste your time. While we don't vouch for opinions expressed on each site, we have found them interesting and useful, and hope that you might as well.
----
William Booth's secret of success? Commissioner Harris asked Commissioner Joliffe, the founder's one-time ADC, the question. The answer? It turns out that Booth believed deeply in hell. I know it is not the most popular topic (especially in evangelism), but as you embrace the biblical truths on hell and allow them to shake your comfort and stir your zeal for the lost, may God roll that out effectively in your evangelising today (and in future days).
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 11, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2RL;KC;CH)

How's your soul?
----
Following up form yesterday's post on others and their success, here is a line from Rick Joyner: "How foolish I had been to measure what was required of me by hoe others were doing. I, too, was one of the foolish virgins" (p92, The Final Quest).
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Eleanor Burne-Jones picks up from our posts on spiritual warfare (over at her blog at right).
----
Here's a related prayer...

Be Strong In The Lord
(Ephesians 6:10-20)

To the end, Your mighty power will be our strength. We prepare ourselves in Your armour so that we can stand up to the devil. We are not wrestling against a human enemy. We’re combating demonic principalities and powers and rulers of darkness, fighting the spiritual armies of evil in the second heaven.

We are donning all of Your armour so that we can persist in the evil day, and when all is said and done, be left standing. We will stand buckled in Your truth, wrapped around our waist, decked out in a righteous chest plate. We are booting up with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. We are wielding faith’s shield to quench every fiery arrow hurled at us by the wicked one. We are helmeted in salvation, and we have unsheathed the Spirit’s sword- the spoken word of God.

You will hear from us today all kinds of prayers and requests. In the Spirit, we will persevere with coverage for all the saints.

Cover us with prayer, from the saints, and, Jesus, from Your intercession, please, so that every time we open my mouths, You feel free to download words to courageously expose the mystery of the Gospel, for which we are (not yet) chained ambassadors.
----
In Australia, Herbert Booth is a legend among salvos. They love his ingenuity, innovation, and initiative. As the rest of the salvo world knows, he is appreciated universally for his song legacy (which ranks among the most influential in SA history). Here is verse 1 and chorus of a classic that highlights H Booth's convictions surrounding hell, the demonic, and spiritual warfare:

We are marching o'er the regions where the slavery to sin
is enforced by hellish legions but we'll fight and we shall win.
Step by step we march along
never daunted, fearing none
true liberty from self and satan is our song.

(chorus)
With sword and shield we'll take the field, we're not afraid to die
while the standard of the cross is waving o'er us;
we raise on high our battle cry, and all hell's legions defy;
scattered by our ranks, the foe falls down before us
March on! March on! Heed not the cannon's roar
March on! March on! There's a crown when the battle's o'er.
----
Holy. now.
----
Hallelujah.
----
Remember the poor. This is the exhortation give Paul by the Jerusalem apostles (Galatians 2:10). And this is the very thing Paul was game to do. Let's fight to win the world for Jesus. But let's remember the poor on the way. They will be a focus of much of our efforts. God help you remember today in your evangelising.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 10, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Other new Salvo Order of Australia Medal recipients:

Envoy Donald Nottage: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2009/06/09/award-for-salvo-envoy-caring-for-others/

Name: HINDLE, Constance Joan
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia
Post-nominal: OAM
Date granted: 08 June 2009
State: NSW
Suburb: Toronto
Postcode: 2283
Citation: For service to the community in the area of social welfare, and to The Salvation Army.


Name: HINDLE, Stanley James
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia
Post-nominal: OAM
Date granted: 08 June 2009
State: NSW
Suburb: Toronto
Postcode: 2283
Country: n/a
Citation: For service to the community in the area of social welfare, and to The Salvation Army.

Praise the Lord (hat tip J Knaggs blog on the last two).
----
Peter Lublink as some alternative uniform options at his blog (right column).
----
Andrew Bale goes completely hardcore again on covenant and holiness (THE two characteristics of salvationism) at his blog (right side).
----
Harare is the most difficult city to live in: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.8c04ab2b483dc269437847af01eac2d0.641&show_article=1 (hat tip Phil L).
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
We have been throwing out the challenge in the last few days for great commitment to the salvation war. One of the hindrances to the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ is disunity. One of the insidious manifestations of it comes in times of success. When we hear that Bonnke is closing in on 100 million conversions or that Hogan has raised more than 200 dead people back to life or that Theresa threw her life away for the destitute, does that spur us on or discourage us? The temptation is the latter. Intead, we should rejoice at their exploits and be fired up to love Jesus more and love people more and fight for victory on our own fronts.

If you are tempted to lose motivation ("woe is me; I could never do that; I'm not as blessed; what's the use of ...?") or even to resent (the press) or envy (the power) or respond in some other unworthy manner, flee to the feet of Jesus now. Speak the truth and deny the lie. Ask Jesus to bless the person and protect you.
----
Holy. now.
----
God bless The Salvation Army. God raised it up. He uses it to bless millions around the world. Hallelujah. May God help us do things that make a difference in the salvation war, today.
----
Remember the poor.
----
"God's grace is not conditioned by the worth of its object" (General Clarence Wiseman). That said, the most unlikely, from human perspectives, are treasures to God. May He help you mediate salvific grace to a treasure, today.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 9, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
----
Major David Eldridge was made a member of the Order of Australia yesterday. Praise the Lord. Here's a piece on it:

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/06/08/76421_news.html
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Here is an outside view on emergent Christianity, particularly, Donald Miller, 'postmodern prophet', that might be of interest to those who have (or have meant to) read Blue Like Jazz, or have some cursory interest in secular take on Christian developments:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/557jmfcr.asp
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Don't scroll down until you guess the country to which this article refers.

Here's head-shaking story of a Good Friday ban of a home Bible Study! "The county official asked, "Do you have a regular meeting in your home?" "Do you say, 'Amen'?" and "Do you say, 'Praise the Lord'?"" That was enough for a cease-and-desist order.

This is not a Middle Eastern country, nor a European land. It is in America!

http://townhall.com/news/religion/2009/06/05/apology_issued_for_sd_bible_study_threat

The county ended up apologising (though the residents had a lawyer on the case).
----
Holy. now.
----
Welcome to international readers. This verse is about the Lord Jesus Christ. When He walked the earth, He amazed people by His life and teachings and miracles. He continues to do all things well. We continues to bring overwhelming amazement to those who stop long enough to gaze into His face. You can do that, today...

وبهتوا الى الغاية قائلين انه عمل كل شيء حسنا. جعل الصم يسمعون والخرس يتكلمون

眾 人 分 外 希 奇 ， 說 ： 他 所 做 的 事 都 好 ， 他 連 聾 子 也 叫 他 們 聽 見 ， 啞 吧 也 叫 他 們 說 話 。

A převelmi se divili, řkouce: Dobře všecky věci učinil. I hluchým rozkázal slyšeti, i němým mluviti.

Watu walishangaa sana, wakasema, "Amefanya yote vyema: amewajalia viziwi kusikia, na bubu kusema!"

Uma mowo kakonce-ra ntodea, ntora ra'uli' -mi: "Hawe'ea to nababehi, lompe'. Tauna to wongo napaka'uri', pe'epe-ramo! Tauna to uma howa' mololita, howa' -ramo mololita!"

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.
----
Remember the poor.
----
Why not try to get people to gaze into Jesus' face today?
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 8, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2MC;DW;JG;SAT;PM)

How's your soul?
----
Picking up from yesterday's blog, if we are in a war against the devil and evil, we need to be aware. But we can approach the war appropriately in light of this warfare perspective.

Let's fight hard. Let's challenge our own comfort. I have a group of guys who challenge my comfort. They out-challenge each other in their zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is relatively easy to step up when you are surrounded by examples of heroic commitment, extreme devotion, and radical exploits. Primitive Salvationism is a romantic ideal that captivates imagination and lives of an increasing number of warriors.

Find some like-hearted salvos to hold you accountable (and vice versa). As Paul instructs us, "Live up to what you have already attained." Whatever your most productive, most intimate, most holy, most energetic, most joyful, most loving experiences or seasons, live up to each of these all at the same time. And make this the new foothold from which you advance in the salvation war.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Really. As John Conner says in Terminator Salvation, 'if you are listening, you ARE the resistance'. In a similar manner, if you are reading this, you are the warriors that God is raising up to win the world for Jesus.

If that is the case, all of us will have to take Paul on steroids - don't only live up to what you have already attained; we need to live up to what WE as the historic orthodox people of God have already attained. Do you get it? As powerful as the miracle-workers, and intimate as some of the catholic saints, as holy as the Wesleyans, as heroic as the primitive salvationists, as sacrificial as a couple of the radical orders - this is the level to which WE are called and expected to live up to!
----
Holy. now.
----
Is that arrogant? No. It is expected by God. He talks about greater things, greater works. We are the ones who can live through the greater things, experiencing them, receiving the greater works package that God has promised. It isn't as a blessing. It is a requirement for the great salvation war. We need all that God provides us to win the world for Jesus.

Anything less is failure. Some might say, sin.
----
Nicole Brindle's blog (at right) goes on about the boiler rooms in 24/7 prayer. She is part of the Vancouver war room and if you hit these two salvo links you can get an interesting take on two 'boiler rooms' now operating:

http://www.24-7prayer.com/community/vancouver
http://www.24-7prayer.com/community/wandsworth
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Remember the poor.
----
Apply the principles above and you will see people get saved - maybe today, if you give someone the opportunity.
----
God is here.
God help us all be helpful.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 7, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2IS)

How's your soul?
----
Check out USS JAC61 (top right).
----
We're in a salvation war. We are fighting the forces of evil to free people, bound by demons and sin, by the matchless power of our great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Most Christians don't have this worldview. Instead, they are more influenced by societal culture, politics, advertising, work life, and other distractions from the reality of the spiritual realm.

I urge you to throw off the blinders and the blinkers. See that we are not wrestling againgst flesh and blood. We're not trying to beat up people or get the better of them. Instead, we wrestle against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark work world, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Are there demons behind every curtain? Are their evil spirits under every bush? No.

But are many people demonised to some extent? Are some people possessed, other oppressed, many hassled and cursed and vomited on, ridden like dumb oxen to do the bidding of the enemy? Yes.

Human inclination is to look on the outward appearance and be impressed by looks, skill, style, and accoutrements. God looks at the heart. He can help us look at the heart. He can help us see through the external and superficial.

Most of what most people expend considerable time, energy, finance, and worry on in external, superficial, and temporary. It won't survive the judgement. Such a short-term perspective is lost in the company of wisdom and the strategic.

Let's try to optimse our time and energy and finance by deploying them strategically into worthy endeavours. Let's recognise that many of the people with whom we live our lives, whether richer or older or 'superior' or (fill in the blank) will be judged by God and placed in eternity based on completely different criteria that those by which most of us normally judge. And many of these people need to get freed.
----
Holy. now.
----
Now, all of the, above, said, there is nothing but yourself stopping you from being as close to the heavenly throne as anyone else. There are great saints there - hallelujah. Many of them we've never heard of and will have to meet for the first time in heaven. Conversely, many of the least in eternity are the 'most' right now on earth. Let's not get confused. We are among holy and humble people who lack the style and skills and accoutrements with which we associate success. We might not take notice of them.

We should. Some of them are intimate with God and powerful for Him - hallelujah. We want to honour them but also be inspsired by them to press in, ourselves, to accomplish for the Lord Jesus Christ all that He hopes and expects.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
The King's Singers recorded 19 Salvos songs a couple of years ago. It is a great idea. You might enjoy it (I'm sure you can score it at amazon or trade).
---
Remember the poor.
----
When God reveals the spiritual realms it is nearly impossible to continue with life as usual. Ask Him to reveal, and then go put yourself in times of great risk and faith.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
----
So it is a tough economy, affecting most of us. Here is the CEO of Thomas Nelson books on the benefits:

It causes you to get more creative.
It forces you to make the tough decisions.
It thins out the competition.
It makes you realize you can’t take anything for granted.
It reminds you that real wealth isn’t about the stuff you own.
It fosters out-of-the-box thinking.
It makes it easier to abandon business-as-usual.
It brings you back to the basics.
It accelerates change.
It causes you to be less wasteful.

http://michaelhyatt.com/2008/11/10-benefits-of-a-recession.html
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This is a challenge for all of us - an opportunity to reassess what we do and why we do it. But it all applies spiritually for us as well. Let's ask God to help us be more creative, to have the courage to make tough decisions, to optimise opportunities, to appreciate the blessings, to think outside the box, to embrace change, to focus on the basics, to speed change, and to waste less.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Here's a little advert for the next Spring Harvest:
www.springharvest.org (just click on the promo video)
----
Holy. now.
----
USS JAC61 is an all-United States Southern Territory issue of Journal of Aggressive Christianity (top right) produced by Major Willis Howell. Check it out today.
----
Remember the poor.
----
The Twitter TC, Commissioner Knaggs, has several thousands followers to his daily posts. He's an example of traditional Salvo innovation. It inspires the rest of us to be more creative in finding ways to introduce people to Jesus, to help them find forgiveness and purpose and peace. God help us all find effective ways, today.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
----
Have you read USS JAC61 yet? (quickly, skip over there and read every article before someone finds out!).
----
Here's an excerpt from the foreword to the Korean edition of ONE THING: Win the world for Jesus, by Commissioner Knaggs and me:

You have in your hands a dangerous weapon. Its pages are splattered with passion, covered with conviction, and littered with divine love. In the hands of a warrior of Jesus, its contents will inform, instruct, and inspire to imitate the tactics of the apostle Paul to became all things to all men and women so that by all possible means you might save some.

The question is, are you a warrior of Jesus? If not, this little book is a collection of words stringing together nice stories that may seem to be speaking a different language to you.

If you are not a warrior of Jesus, you can determine to change your status, starting now. You can get down on your knees, repent of every sin, get rid of every doubtful habit, stop every questionable practice, consecrate every aspect of your life to Jesus, and cry out to Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and share with you His unending passion for souls. And the words of this book will come alive.

The first English edition of this book has stirred the hearts of many Salvationists to focus and intensify their evangelistic and discipling efforts. In one outpost, Junior Soldier recruits are respectfully, intentionally, and prayerfully targeting their friends, and are already seeing some get saved. Results like this are multiplied around one territory in Australia as conversions statistics have almost doubled.

The second English edition and this first Korean edition are intended to further mobilize and deploy God’s redemption army and extend the great flow of salvation as God the Holy Spirit uses normal people like you and us and convicts all kinds of men and women and boys and girls of their guilt regarding sin, righteousness, and judgement, bringing them to a godly sorrow that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets.

Pray hard. Impress the great truths of the Gospel on those you meet. Persuade them to repent and believe and follow our great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. May this little book help you accomplish this great mission.
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
James Thompson's boog (at right) has some great stuff on miracles in The Salvation Army (and elsewhere). Check it out.
----
Holy. now.
----
Andrew Clark's blog:
1. Happy birthday to ArmyRenewal blog - it celebrated FIVE years of salvo blogging. Hallelujah! May God expand its tent.
2. Andrew finished his midrash on the affirmations and added his own, tenth, affirmation - check it out.
3. He has a guty quote by General John Gowans that you might not want to read.
----
Remember the poor.
----
May the Korean foreword above sitr you up in your evangelising today.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 4, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2JG;RA)

How's your soul?
----
RankCountryTotal armed forces

1China2,255,000
2United States1,456,850
3India1,325,000
4Korea, North1,262,00
5Russia1,058,000
6Korea, South687,000
7Pakistan620,000
8Iran540,000
9Turkey514,850
10Vietnam484,000
(hat tip Cory Harrison)

There is obviously a mistake here, as The Salvation Army is larger than all but China. We're number two. I know that General Larssson kicked us off on a campaign to hit two million by 2010 and we still have some months to go. But that still leaves us a bit shy of China. May God help us raise up a million more in coming months so that we are the largest army in the world. We won't be the largest standing army... because we'll be on our knees (it is the only way to get there).
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Have you read Jason Pope's article in USS JAC61, "To the ends of the earth we will go" yet? Have a read (of all the articles).
----
Holy. now.
----
I was actually just using CS Lewis's Christian Trilemma last week with a British guy who was visiting town. Here is an excerpt from Andrew Bale's take on that useful evangelistic apologetic:

"Jesus claimed that he was God. If his claim wasn't true then either he lied or he was mad. However, if it is true then he is Lord! We only have three options – he is either liar, lunatic or Lord?

"In the discussion during the session I took Lewis's logic a step further – if we say he is Lord and yet deliberately disobey him then we must be either liars or lunatics.

"You see once we have settled the question of his Lordship then absolute unadulterated surrender must follow."

Amen. Read the whole post at his blog (at right).
----
Remember the poor.
----
Why not try to use the Christian trilemma in evangelising today?
----
God is here.
GOd help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 3, 2009. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2MB)

How's your soul?
----
Have you read the new JAC61 yet? Did Major Willis Howell really suggest that a bunch of people leave The Salvation Army? Here's an excerpt:

"And to my Salvationist brothers and sisters who may be trying to move the Army in directions of liturgy, greater formality, a more “stained glass” setting, communion, more relaxed standards, or a mega-church mentality, may I lovingly set this idea on the table…? Could it be that the Army just might not be right for you? Please understand I’m not criticizing or condemning! I know full well that we aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Truth is we’re really more of an “acquired taste.” I’m simply suggesting that perhaps we work together to help find you some church or ministry – complete with the elements, practices, “look,” and “feel” you’re wanting –where you’ll be more comfortable, and not as frustrated."
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
12 lessons on warfare, from Rick Joyner (Epic Battles of the Last Days):
1. we must clearly define our objectives.
2. the greater the unity, the greater the victory.
3. when it is time to fight, we must not hesitate.
4. we must choose our leaders carefully, and then let them lead.
5. the air must be implemented first (aim prayers at enemy communications - means of slander, accusation, maligning; sources - bitterness, jealusy, etc.).
6. we must not succumb to the scud missle diversion (criticism can do little real damage but they can divert us if we overreact).
7. our weapons must be precise (we don't beat the air - 1 Cor 9:26 - they are mighty - 2 Cor 10:4...)
8. there must be specialisation in missions (do what we're called and gifted to do).
9. one of the greatest dangers will be from friendly fire.
10. we must be patient before beginning the ground war, but there will be no victory without it (discipleship and spiritual warfare).
11. we must not stop fighting until victory is complete (2 Kings 13:14-19; Joshua 8:26).
12. after the victory, we must beware of those who try to join us with stale bread and old wine skins (Joshua 9; 1 Cor 10:12).
----
Holy. now.
----
Catch Danielle Strickland in a couple of new places this week:

Sojourners Blog
http://blog.sojo.net/2009/06/01/should-we-tolerate-legalized-prostitution/

Sofia Network
http://blog.sophianetwork.org.uk/
----
Remember the poor.
----
To win a soul is better than to command an army (and, yes, Paul and the writer of Proverbs both talk about 'us' winning or saving souls- don't get distracted, get conversions). Holy evangelising.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 2, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2PM)

How's your soul?
----
JAC61 is out! The USS issue of Journal of Aggressive Christianity - guest editor, Major Willis Howell, TP of the USS School for Officer Training, with Cadet Aaron Abram - looks great. You'll want to dig in to a 14-course meals of southern-fried Salvationism. It sizzles. Here is the table of contents:

June - July 2009
Issue # 61

Editorial Introduction
Major Willis Howell & Cadet Aaron Abram

ReKindling the Passion
Captain Marion Platt

The Problem with Cave-Dwelling Prophets
Captain Anthony Juliana

Reaching the Worlds
Captain Jonathan Gainey

Stories from the 'Hood'
Captain Sandra Pobjie-Pawar

Programming: Cookie Cutter or Custom Fit?
Cadet Aaron Abram

Passing on comfortable faith
Gabriela Broome

One thing I learned at SFOT...
Cadet Michal Chapman

To the Ends of the Earth we will go
Jason Pope

We don't WANT to be different (do we?)
Major Willis Howell

Proud to be a Salvationist
Captain Kelly Goldfarb

New Salvationism
Kelly Pope

Evangelism?
Captain Melanie Falin

Women in Leadership: Talent vs. Tokenism
Cadet Andrea Hoover

Blood and Fire: Do We Really have Both?
Lieutenant Jimmy Taylor

Go Ahead and Keep Your 10%
Cory Harrison
----
Enjoy (top right). THe Kingdom of God is at hand. Get holy. Now. Remember the poor. Evangelise your heart out.
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 1, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2LE;ES;SLB)

How's your soul?
----
Are you as smart as an honour junior soldier?

We warned you about this yesterday. Here are the requirements:
- JS for at least a year;
- be at least 10 years old;
- complete one year of JS curriculum;
- attend Sunday School regularly;
- Participate in two youth activities;
- attend senior meetings whenever possible;
- fire young people's cartridge regularly;
- wear uniform regularly;
- successfully complete the honour junior soldier course;
- recite JS promise;
- know the meaning of the crest, flag, and uniform;
- know something about SA history, terminology, symbols, and procedures;
- recite the SA doctrines;
- tell what each doctrine means;
- pray and read the Bible daily;
- testify in public meeting;
- complete required projects;
- be prepared to display and discuss selected project materials on the following: Christian growth; the Bible; What Would Jesus Do?

We might give you the actual test questions in posts to come, but this handful is enough to keep most of us busy.
----
Happpy Brengle's birthday (hat tip Stringer).
----
The kingdom of God is at hand.
----
Welcome to international readers. Here is a classic salvation verse - it tells you a little about what can happen in your life. If you believe Jesus (trust/rely on/depend on Him), if you receive Him as the living God, the Sovereign King into your life, He will make you His child! It is an amazing truth and promise. It can happen to you, today:

واما كل الذين قبلوه فاعطاهم سلطانا ان يصيروا اولاد الله اي المؤمنون باسمه.

凡 接 待 他 的 ， 就 是 信 他 名 的 人 ， 他 就 賜 他 們 權 柄 ， 作 神 的 兒 女 。

Maar zovelen Hem aangenomen hebben, dien heeft Hij macht gegeven kinderen Gods te worden, namelijk die in Zijn Naam geloven;

しかし，彼を受け入れたすべての者たち，その名を信じた者たちに，彼は神の子供となる権利を与えた。

Tetapi semua orang yang menerima-Nya diberi-Nya kuasa supaya menjadi anak-anak Allah, yaitu mereka yang percaya dalam nama-Nya;

Datapuwa't ang lahat ng sa kaniya'y nagsitanggap, ay pinagkalooban niya sila ng karapatang maging mga anak ng Dios, sa makatuwid baga'y ang mga nagsisisampalataya sa kaniyang pangalan:

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
----
Holy. now.
----
"All to Jesus I surrender, ALl to Him I freely give."
----
Remember the poor.
----
May God empower you in your evangelising today - great opportunities, guts to take them up, words of knowledge and discernment, divine compassion, wisdom, supernatural power, confident faith.
----
God is here.
God help us all be humble.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court