Armybarmy Blog

July 31, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2RC;H/M)

How's your soul?
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The War College announcment:
The War College is pleased to welcome Lieut-Colonel David Grindle to the Board of Reference, joining Generals Clifton, Burrows, and Gowans, Commissioners Harris, Needham, and Noland, Colonels Robinson, and Copple, Lieut-Colonels Janet Munn and Richard Munn, and Stacey and Wesley Campbell.

Grindle has been the DC in the Chicago Metropolitan Division of the USA Central Territory since 2002 and was instrumental in the start of the Blue Island campus in Chicago. His addition to the Board further strengthens The War College in the United States, offering radical, incarnational, corps-based warfare training at each campus amongst the marginalised to students who have come from many countries around the world.

Those interested in attending one of The War College campuses should visit thewarcollege.com.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Here's a handy resource - Aussie Salvo Podcasts, here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TSAAusEvents
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We have a lot of American readers. Here's one just for you:

"America has been declared a post-Christian nation, but that is the devil’s prophecy. America is actually a pre-Christian nation. A Third Great Awakening is coming to America, and it will be the greatest of all. The unprecedented and increasing hostility against Christianity in America is provoking an unparalleled resolve in an increasing number of Christians. Possibly the greatest awakening of American Christians is going on at this time, and it is increasing. This will ultimately result in revival, another Great Awakening." (Rick Joyner, today)
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Leadership Journal describes five kinds of Christian - what kind are you? http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/fall/1.19.html
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Holy. now.
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I'm told Alfred Edersheim is a great source for messianic take on Jesus' life and warfare. Here is an online version of his classic:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/lifetimes.toc.html
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"I believe in God, Family, and McDonalds" - the title caught me, too:

http://www.americanvision.org/article/i-believe-in-god-family-and-mcdonalds--/
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"Abortion and racism are evil twins" - this also caught me (especially when it was attributed to 'Dr. King'):

http://www.suzyb.org/blog/_archives/2009/7/23/4264978.html
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Remember the poor.
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JAC62 is right around the corner (August 1 in North America).
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"Nothing to do but to save souls" (John Wesley). Let's get at it, today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Indonesia Territory.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 30, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2TS;JI;JRD)

How's your soul?
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Commissioner Earle Maxwell says that 'the biggest loss in life is the loss of awareness of the presence of God' - if you haven't had it you don't know what you're missing.
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Did you know that for every adult in church today there are four who used to go? (hat tip Maxwell) Why not call up some of your former pew-mates and see where they are?
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"The human spiirit fails unless the Holy Spirit fills" (E. Stanley Jones).
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Colossians 2:6,7 - this week's memory verse (posted a few days ago) - classic advice and encouragement in following the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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JAC62 is on tap AUGUST 1. It is a great looking issue. You'll want to carve out some weekend-reading time to dig into it.
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Holy. now.
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The Twitter experiment continues (top right), in case you'd like to jump on board. for the record, the techie TC - Commissioner Knaggs (blogs at right) is currently at 15,379 followers on Twitter.
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Remember the poor.
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We've intentionally gone short today so that you can catch up on previous posts this week. Enjoy.
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And try to get someone saved, today (maybe one of those four adults who used to go to church).
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God is here.
GOd help us all be humble.
God bless the Japan Territory.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 29, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2LT)

How's your soul?
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I guess 'saved to save' posts in the last couple of days stirred up some emotion... (so, 'saved to save' redux):

Some might note that even official SA publications make the ‘saved to serve’ mistake. Our quick response is, 'are you allowed to do that?' This is a fundamental dictum of The Salvation Army. Can you slide in and decide to make other improvements? Maybe you figure that the 'blood' in our slogan is a bit too gory and crude so you decide to improve it as the painter touching up the worn-out sign to 'Flood and Fire'. Is that legitimate?

Or what if you figure that 'others' is going to dissipate concentration and focus on making ourselves everything we ought to be by sucking energy and resources that could be used to prepare/maintain/bless ourselves SO THAT we are in a position to help/serve/save others? So 'Others' quickly is improved to 'Ourselves'.

Or what if we conclude that 'Heart to God and hand to man' is just a little offensive to both non-religionists and women? So we improve it to 'Heart open and hand out' or something?

Or what if 'the world for God' is just a little too embarrassing when we're in conversation with church types who don't buy it or with non-church types who just don't get it at all? So we improve it to 'The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world' (one territory’s mission statement, which, by the way, is a vast improvement on an old committee-speak, politically-correct statement full of conditions and allusions to religion and race and gender and so on, that, if I interpreted it correctly, said, in essence, 'please don't sue us').

Or what if being 'ready to preach, pray or die at a moment's notice' just seems silly now so we improve it to 'ready to help, hope, or harm reduce at a moment's notice'? (or at least, during office hours… AND, no matter what you do, DO NOT EVEN THINK about having a ‘client’ over to your quarters!)

Or how about 'fire a volley!'? Surely that could be/has been (in most places) improved to 'hmmmmm' (accompanied, in some cultures, with a head nod)?

Or, finally, let's hit closer to today: 'save souls, grow saints, and serve suffering humanity'. But maybe General Gowans, a celebrated wordsmith, was just working the alliterative angle and rhythm a bit overtime here. Maybe we should simplify things by improving it to read, 'serve suffering humanity'?

How can we change 'this is our speciality - getting saved, keeping saved, and getting someone else saved', to 'getting served, keeping served, and getting someone else served'? Or, how can we change 'go for souls and go for the worst' to 'go for (government?) service contracts and go for the biggest'?

It SOUNDS like a subtle difference. After all, The Army is famous for its effective service. And we intend to glorify God in and through our lives (sometimes through service).

However, the result is a completely different mission.

One is to save our family members; the other is to serve them.
One is to save the marginalised; the other is to serve them.
One is to save gross sinners; the other is to serve them.
One is a Salvation agency; the other is a service agency.

One is to save the world (from sin); the other is to serve the world (in its sin).

So, a drunkard stumbles in off the street. 'Saved to Save' preaches the Gospel as a means of becoming a new creation through Jesus' forgiveness and deliverance. 'Saved to Serve' detoxes and teaches that he is a recovering addict forever.

Does the 'Saved to Save' serve as well? Yes. Of course.
Does the 'Saved to Serve' save as well? Maybe. Who knows? It is not guaranteed from that motto (note that probably [unless camps win out] the most effective evangelistic salvo initiative in the States is rehab, so this is not at all a diatribe against service - not at all - American salvo rehabs are saved to save). General William Booth, writing in 'The Salvationist' in 1879, summed up our purpose in the following simple but striking way:

"We are a salvation people - this is our speciality - getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more until full salvation on earth makes the heaven within."
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The kingdom of God is at hand. Get holy. now. Remember the poor. God for souls and go for the worst.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Kenya East Territory.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 28, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2IPDT)

How's your soul?
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We posted yesterday on 'saved to save'. Who are you trying to save? How are you trying to save them (don't be distracted by the argument that we don't save anyone -that's not the point, and Paul became all things to all people so that by all possible means he might save some)? Are you intentionally trying to save anyone?

If not, start. Plan opportunities to evangelise your friends. Join salvo initiatives that open doors to witnessing. Take opportunities God provides in divine appointments. Ask God to work things out for you. Ask Him to fill you. If you need it, get yourself trained up. If you are a salvo you are saved to save.

(If you don't plan to even start, then please take the S from your left lapel (or shoulder if you are in summer uniform) and hand it in to your CO. Don't confuse anyone by pretending to be saved to save if you are only saved. It could mess people up who are desperate for hope, peace, and forgiveness. They might think you care...)

(oh, you DO care? How much do you care? Enough to rescue them from eternal damnation? Apparently not. So, rip off the S).

But the bracketed bit above might not apply to anybody - we all hope so. God help us all.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Saved to Save.

It might be even more accurately put that we are meant to be 'fully saved to fully save'. We're a holiness movement or we've lost the plot. Holiness is the solution to every problem. That includes the ones we currently cower from.

If we all experience full salvation and press on to see everyone else experience full salvation then the recent post by William Booth would be more than the pipe dream that too many figure it is.
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Holy. now.
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Welcome to international readers. We urge you to submit your lives to Jesus. Once you do that, these verses from Colossians 2 (6,7) will help you on the Way:

فكما قبلتم المسيح يسوع الرب اسلكوا فيه 7 متأصلين ومبنيين فيه وموطدين في الايمان كما علّمتم متفاضلين فيه بالشكر.

你 們 既 然 接 受 了 主 基 督 耶 穌 ， 就 當 遵 他 而 行 ， 7 在 他 裡 面 生 根 建 造 ， 信 心 堅 固 ， 正 如 你 們 所 領 的 教 訓 ， 感 謝 的 心 也 更 增 長 了 。

Bu nedenle Rab Mesih İsayı nasıl kabul ettinizse, Onda öylece yaşayın. 7 Şükranla dolup taşarak Onda köklenin ve gelişin, size öğretildiği gibi imanda güçlenin.

Посему, как вы приняли Христа Иисуса Господа, [так] и ходите в Нем, 7 будучи укоренены и утверждены в Нем и укреплены в вере, как вы научены, преуспевая в ней с благодарением.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
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Danielle Strickland (at right) blogs on pagan Christianity.
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Remember the poor.
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SALVOS OUT THERE starts next week. It is a six-week territorial initiative in Australia Southern. The website will soon give you the whole lowdown including face-to-face with the techie TC, Commissioner Jim Knaggs. Check it out here:
salvosoutthere.com.

Use salvos out there as an excuse to try to get some people saved.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Kenya West Territory.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 27, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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“Filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” – this is FULL SALVATION (Ephesians 3:19).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Jesus is here, “to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:74,75 NIV).
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Holy. now.
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General William Booth, writing in 'The Salvationist' in 1879, summed up our purpose in the following simple but striking way:

"We are a salvation people - this is our speciality - getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more until full salvation on earth makes the heaven within."
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Remember the poor.
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Bramwell Booth - a thumbnail history sketch with The Army in context:
"There have, no doubt, been some messages similar in fundamentals to our own. But our message seems to me to have in it one element of vital importance which makes it stand out a little from the others.

"The Apostles received their message from the human lips of their Divine Master. They took it direct from Him… The fruits which came of it were wonderfully like the fruits which have come from the declaration of our message in our day…

"Those who followed the Apostles during the first two or three hundred years after Christ, no doubt, had a message which was received from the heart of God through the Holy Spirit. That message sustained them in their particular circumstances. It carried them through the most dreadful conflicts. It kept alive the little flame of witness in that seat of iniquity called the Roman Empire. That message fit their specific condition and circumstance, and it emphasised the maintenance of the life which God had planted within them, and the preservation of their faith amid blazing fires of hatred and persecution.

"We know that there were other manifestations amidst the period of great darkness, which followed. What we call the Dark Ages, when a sort of fog came down on Christendom, were not without wonderful illumination here and there. Then, in a later period, God gave His great manifestation to Luther, and many things which had been slumbering awoke. Luther's message seems to have been a message of faith. He reawakened the principle that blessing and goodness are given by faith in Christ, as opposed to all that doctrine of works in which the Church had stumbled.

"There was also a very remarkable manifestation in the life and teaching of Calvin. He went astray in some respects, but he was seized with a marvellous understanding of divine things. His power lay in his perception of a certain factor in the nature of God, God's power to save, God's power to act in the moral nature independent of circumstances. We have that same idea in our own message. We also believe in the power of God to deal with the hidden things of the heart.

"Then there came a very remarkable revelation through John Wesley. It had many distinct characteristics but the outstanding lesson was that of personal experience of God, the assurance of God's dealings with people. But it was more or less introspective. This revelation primarily led people to consider themselves, laying themselves bare before God as the great objects of His grace.

"And then came our message – the message to William Booth, summed up in one of his great expressions: Saved to Save."
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SAVED TO SAVE. If you're saved, try to get some people saved today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Korea Territory.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
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William Booth on officership:

‘I see a conflict—a fight—no! More than a fight—a long-continued war… I see again a vast multitude of the miserable, the lonely, the outcasts of Earth . . . the cry of whose agony has come up to Heaven. And I see everywhere among them the mighty blessings conferred upon them by our social operations. I look, and there rises up before my eyes the mightiest and most practical body of Salvation missionaries as yet known upon the Earth. Not less than 100,000 officers, men and women, of all nations, races and tongues, whose business it is to make Salvation known.’
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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That's a lot of officers. It sounds ridiculous to some, today. But it is only a tithe of our senior soldiery. It is reasonable. Should you be one of the 100,000?
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Did you read Ramsay (at right)? A couple of great posts this week. It is worth the visit.
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This is your last week to read JAC61 - the USS issue - before it goes into the archives (where you can still access it) and is replaced by JAC62 (which is a great issue).
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Bale is blogging his journal. Look out (at right).
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Laeger and Laeger @ Collingwood Sunday 6:30pm. Major David Laeger is preaching on the trip from the curse to the cure and Phil Laeger is leading worship. The meeting is free. The focus is Christ. And you are invited (Wellington and Otter).
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Holy. now.
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Example of INSPECT Bible marking method (inquiring hearts want to know).
Colossians 4 NKJV
I -v2 continue earnestly in prayer, being diligent in it with thanksgiving.
N -v6 let you speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
S -v17 take heed to the ministry... (I guess he wasn't taking heed).
P -v7 will tell you all the news about me.
E -v12 Epaphras... always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
C -v5 walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
T -v3 praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.
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Remember the poor.
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Souls. Souls. Souls. Go for souls. Preach the compelling Gospel of grace and love and hope. Persuade them to repent and believe.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Papua New Guinea Territory.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 24, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2CB;MG)

How's your soul?
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From Harold Hill (including the last line!): In “Some Books on the Holy Spirit”, by Lieut.-Commissioner David Cuthbert in the Staff Review for February 1930. On pp.44-45 he writes

“The Baptism of the Holy Ghost by another American clergyman, Dr Asa Mahan, was found thirty years ago in almost every Salvation Army Officer’s Quarters and was extensively quoted in Holiness Meetings. It has almost entirely disappeared from our bookshelves. Why? Was it because Mahan taught that there are three blessings necessary to a complete Christian life – conversion, Sanctification, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost? The sequence of spiritual experiences, no doubt, has been and still is true in many cases, but there are many instances recorded in the New Testament and in Christian biography where the three have happened simultaneously. It can be obtained from our own IHQ Publishing Department for 2s.6d.”

"The booklet, I presume, rather than the blessing…" (hat tip Harold Hill)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Holiness is becoming a trendy topic again - praise God. It is intriguing to read this, from a private circulation salvo periodical for staff officers, back in 1930 (1930, for one thing, being a crucial period for The Army; also, can you imagine a commissioner today saying something like this, or even getting the opportunity to read it?). May God give us revelation and the experience that surpasses knowledge. We want, as an Army, to live up to what we have already attained, in holiness, in anointing, in zeal, in favour, in creativity, in commitment, in effectiveness. God help us all!
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Holy. now.
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Famous Last Words this week featured Commissioner Earle Maxwell and he spoke four words to three groups of people: To youth - be committed to God; to adults - be consistent for God; to elderly - be confident in God. Great preach. You can watch it at your leisure (scroll down to see the sstsv address). Read more at Collinson's blog (at right).
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Remember the poor.
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Speaking of famous last words, here is a nice piece on turning 64 in SALVATIONIST:

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/64154722C95D3BA1802575F2002CE18B?opendocument&id=D7312E6381A63AA4802575F20029CEFB
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The twitter experiment continues. Follow at top right.
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"Nothing to do but to save souls." Wesley. Let's get at it.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Philippines Territory!
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 23, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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Some great Salvationists weigh in today on topics of their expertise (from a forthcoming book - details to follow):

"Salvationism is an engine-room kind of word, for within its robust, energy-exuding frame pulsates the heart of the Army." (Commissioner Harry Read)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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"What kind of Salvation Army is one in which ‘Mission Matters’? A mission Salvation Army is restless. It is an Army discontent with the ‘way things are’; preferring to work for ‘what can be’. This is not the time to resign; give up; or take refuge within the walls of any citadel.
This is an Army with a clear vision of God’s desire for his world. Despite the way things are, we believe this is still my Father’s world.
We must remain an Army under divine orders. We are neither rooted nor rootless. This is a flexible Movement that God can transplant wherever He so chooses. He can do with us what He pleases. We are at His service to participate in preparing the world to give it back to Jesus!
We are a disturbed Army. Yet, we are not discouraged. ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ is not an appropriate stance for this Army. Things may look alright—but it’s all wrong if it is not under the Lordship of Christ.
A mission-focused Army confronts—and never conforms. We are risk-takers who take no pleasure in residing in comfort and convenience." (Commissioner Israel Gaither)
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Holy. now.
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"Take another look at the website of your corps, command, division or territory. Based on what you see, ask yourself these questions:
· While the medium used may adequately speak the language of today’s media culture, does the message clearly communicate concern for the soul as well as the body?
· Does it give the impression of an Army of people who merely do good things for others, or does it also make unmistakably clear the message that through Jesus one can be good?
· Does it reflect the passions and priorities of heaven as much as the practices of good public relations?
· Is the core message of salvation through Jesus Christ lost in the medium—relegated to a small, easily overlooked link on a sidebar, or drop-down menu—or is it boldly displayed for all to see and find?" (Major Willis Howell)
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Remember the poor.
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"We worship a God who cannot be deleted or edited out of our corporate consciousness. He is not a God who needs an invitation but a God who is unrelenting in his efforts to win his creation and redeem his people. As a mystic once wrote, ‘We worship a God who is constantly lapping at the shores of people’s lives.’ Like the tides of the oceans, our God breaks over our secular shores and revisits his image-laden creation. In the same way that the iron curtain proved porous to the Spirit of God, the cultural barriers of the post-Christian West cannot hold back the One who creates and sustains all things." (Phil Wall)

May this encourage your evangelising today.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless Singapore, Malaysia, and Myanmar Territory.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 22, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2GN;AS)

How's your soul?
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FAMOUS LAST WORDS series continues tonight with 'the best general we never had', former Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Earle Maxwell, from Sydney Australia. 22 July, 7:30pm (Melbourne time!), live at www.salvationarmy.org.ay/sstv (or, in person at the AUS training college in Melbourne).

There will be opportunity for questions from around the world, so if you can't attend, tune in and prepare a question for the Commissioner.

Time zone issues: 7:30pm Melbourne Wednesday is 9:30am Wednesday in London, 5:30am Wednesday in Toronto, 2:30am Wednesday in Vancouver, 11:30pm Tuesday in Hawaii, and so on. If you can't watch it live, you can watch it tomorrow!
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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I've seen a few commissioning books for this year. Glory to God for some large sessions going through in places like Atlanta and London. I know that there are many candidates who could go through training in many parts of Africa and Asia but we lack the resources both to train them and sustain them after commissioning. God help us.

In the financially indepedent territories we are also hurting financially but we can still take candidates. Should you be one? If not, why not? The best responses to this question are God's specific calling elsewhere, health, and ability.

In fact, these are the only legitimate responses. If you don't respond with one of those, then train up in your local corps and offer for officership.
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Holy. now.
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Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. Hallelujah. And Holy Spirit convicts the world of guilt regarding sin. And, I read recently, He uses us to convict (Titus 1:9). So, pray up, get filled up, and then go and preach the good news to people, recognising that it is 'good' when they are convicted of their bad situation.
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God is here.
God help us al be humble (that is, kill our sinful nature).
God bless the Taiwan Region.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 21, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2WC)

How's your soul?
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This week's memory verse is Acts 26:17b-18 (below).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Welcome to international readers. This week's verse (also the memory verse) is a powerful mission from Jesus to the apostle Paul. Take it on, yourself, and it will begin to change your world (Acts 26:17b-18):

منقذا اياك من الشعب ومن الامم الذين انا الآن ارسلك اليهم 18 لتفتح عيونهم كي يرجعوا من ظلمات الى نور ومن سلطان الشيطان الى الله حتى ينالوا بالايمان بي غفران الخطايا ونصيبا مع المقدسين

我 也 要 救 你 脫 離 百 姓 和 外 邦 人 的 手 。 18 我 差 你 到 他 們 那 裡 去 ， 要 叫 他 們 的 眼 睛 得 開 ， 從 黑 暗 中 歸 向 光 明 ， 從 撒 但 權 下 歸 向 神 ； 又 因 信 我 ， 得 蒙 赦 罪 ， 和 一 切 成 聖 的 人 同 得 基 業 。

избавляя тебя от народа Иудейского и от язычников, к которым Я теперь посылаю тебя 18 открыть глаза им, чтобы они обратились от тьмы к свету и от власти сатаны к Богу, и верою в Меня получили прощение грехов и жребий с освященными .

Och jag skall rädda dig såväl från ditt eget folk som från hedningarna. Ty till dem sänder jag dig, 18 för att du skall öppna deras ögon, så att de omvända sig från mörkret till ljuset, och från Satans makt till Gud, på det att de må, genom tron på mig, undfå syndernas förlåtelse och få sin lott bland dem som äro helgade.'

I am sending you to them 18to 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.
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Holy. now.
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JAC62 is coming up shortly - it is a great issue! Wow. Praise God. Schedule some reading time in the first week of August, because it is going to edify!
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Here is a great response to yesterday's post about homeless evangelism:

"I think the problem with people who think this way is that they are trying to justify their lack of testifying. I believe all goodness and kindness comes from God and thus why not tell people the origin of it. Yes there is such a thing as spiritual manipulation and people using Christianity as a power trip. I feel and have observed that those christians helping the homeless are the least likely to be that way...

"Based on my contracts I cannot force my religon on someone, but I can sure let them know who I am and why I do what I do. I can offer to pray for them and invite them to church with me. I can build relationships. If they say don't talk to me about Jesus, I can respect that and become interested in what they believe because that always comes back to Jesus eventually."
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Remember the poor.
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For the second time in awhile I recently observed a mother and son get saved on the same day in the same building but in separate situations. Praise God. One was the result of fishing in a holiness meeting (pretty impressive fishing by the salvo doing it, walking from one part of the hall to another...!) and the other after the meeting. One was organic and the other was formulaic (the 4 points, I am led to believe). Hallelujah.

Skin that cat.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Americas Zone.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 20, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2MP)

How's your soul?
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My friend fired me an article that slams homeless evangelism (hat tip Kyle S). It basically argues that Christians attach strings to their service. Here is a representative line:

"What if you go to the Doctor with a wounded foot and she wants to give you a hair cut instead of healing your foot?"

My quick defence is that when you go to play softball your team-mate doesn't think she wants to hear the gospel (though deep down everyone wants peace and fulfilment only found through the gospel, so they DO WANT the gospel, but that is another rant). And yet you give it to her. When you go to the restaurant your waiter doesn't think he wants to hear the gospel. And yet you give it to him. And so on...

Compartmentalisation as suggested in the article apparently doesn't recognise that salvos want to evangelise anything that moves, in season and out, appropriate and inappropriate, dignified and undignified, friends and strangers, including teammates, waiters, doctors, and homeless people.

The article's argument makes sense in a conventional paradigm. For those of us fighting in a revolutionary paradigm (read: salvos, amongst others) it seems irrelevant.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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FAMOUS LAST WORDS - Wednesday night, simulcast around the globe, featuring Commissioner Earle Maxwell. You can watch it 22 July 7:30 (or at your convenience) at www.salvationarmy.org.ay/sstv
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Salvo Chris Tidd fronts a band called hold fast hope (he's not the only salvo) that recently played the legendary Toronto club, The El Mocambo (hosted the Rolling Stones twice). Check their song The Lost, the Last, the Least, here: http://www.myspace.com/holdfasthopeband
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Holy. now.
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Speaking of holiness, Salvo holiness teacher, Major Alan Harley is in Melbourne all week teach on holiness. If you haven't read his books or heard him preach, you can check JAC (top right) for a few tastes.
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This Sunday night Collingwood Outpost is hosting the Laegers (Majors and son Phil) at St. Martin's Church at 6:30pm. The night will feature wonderful worship and solid teaching.
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Remember the poor.
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Yesterday we went on about skinning a cat. I guess not everyone has seen cat skinning (I'm included in that number). But probably some readers have seen the skinning of rabbits. Apparently (as an armybarmy reader informs us), the usual procedure is to slit it up the middle first, do the torso, then deal with the front and back legs (hat tip Mrs. C)!

I was tempted to teach on how we could use this model in our evangelising - slitting up the middle, and exposing their hidden hurts and sins; doing the torso, and removing the deceptive scaffolding they've arranged around their lives; dealing with the legs, and knocking the legs of false hope out from under them.

But, just evangelise.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Europe Zone.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 19, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2J/PT;b2VS)

How's your soul?
----
Wednesday night is Commissioner Maxwell at Famous Last Words (see details, yesterday's post).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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I stumbled on to this 15-week prayer exercise schedule. It might of interest to some armybarmy readers:

a. Work through the Salvo examen individually each day this week.
b. Play the Game with Minutes (Frank Laubach) each day this week.
c. Pray the hymns of the Revelation out loud individually each day this week.
d. Pray the three fifties (Psalm 1-50; 51-100; 101-150) one day this week.
e. Informally interview a Great Heart on his/her spirituality.
f. Read the Psalms out loud for ½ hour/day this week (ideally in a group).
g. Pray the Apostolic Prayers out loud daily this week.
h. Pray the Imprecatory Psalms out loud daily this week.
i. Pray the Justice Prayer out loud daily this week.
j. Pray the Shouting prayers out loud this week.
k. Pray the Dead-Raising Prayers out loud daily this week.
l. Maintain constant open communication with God every minute of this week.
m. Pray the Fight Songs out loud daily this week (ideally, in a group).
n. Pray through the Year Book once this week.
o. Get sanctified (or, if you are already, anointed).
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Holy. now.
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Here's a brand new website: www.raisedup.org
It promotes the Salvo's WORLD YOUTH CONVENTION one year from now. Read up on the line up, including a few commissioners, a couple of lieut-colonels, a major, a captain, and a general. And there is much more...
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Remember the poor.
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How many ways are there to skin a cat? There are possibly as many ways to introduce people to Jesus as there are people who need to be introduced to Jesus. We're not committed exculsively to any specific tactic. We read that godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation. How do you co-labour with God in getting to godly sorrow (Holy Spirit, who comes to disciples, convicts the world of guilt regarding sin - so He uses us)? Let's start today experimenting to find the most effective means of prodding people to repentance and faith.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the South Asia Zone.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
----
Famous Last Words series continues with former Chief of the Staff Commissioner Earle Maxwell preaching at the College on 22 July 7:30 7(available online at www.salvationarmy.org.ay/sstv). This follows up last quarter's FLW with Lieut-Colonel Lyell Rader.

The wildly popular Maxwell, whose nickname in England in the 90s was 'the best general we never had', is a must-see. For those in Victoria, book it to be there in person. For those out of state and out of country, tune is to watch (and submit to him questions for the Q+A).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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I heard a great new version of Gowans's SOMEONE CARES by Kathleen Pearce, here:

http://files.getdropbox.com/u/206167/Someone%20Cares%20%28First%20Edit%29.mp3

You will find blessing from it and use in your corps as well.
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Holy. now.
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Majors Laeger (USS) and Phil Laeger (AUS) are teaming up with Jesus for a special meeting on Sunday, 26 July with the Collingwood Outpost (Melbourne): FROM CURSE TO CURE (6:30pm)

I. "Cursed is the ground for your sake"
(Genesis 3:17, 18)
2. "... a crown of thorns" (John 19:1)
3 "the sudarion around His head" (John 20:7)

Rader and Laeger and so on - don't buy the conventional wisdom about salvos being lightweight and superficial (and Harley and Barr and Webb coming to town [next week and in coming weeks]).

That said, the 'I'm not getting fed' chestnut should be rebutted with 'feed yourself'. Either serve up a fish or teach them to fish (do the latter).
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International Conference of Leaders statement came across without what many were expecting. We guess that the more substantive and faith-filled and faith-challenging statement (with the 'global faith goals' suggested during the event itself) is yet to come. Stay tuned. And in the meantime, let's keep fighting full-on because Jesus is coming soon.
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Affirmations. Andrew Clark blogged on the 'Affirmations' some weeks ago. We'll possibly midrash on them, too, soon. Stay tuned.
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The twitter experiment continues - feel free to follow (top right - click and follow).
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Discerning armybarmy readers will note some ecumenical blessings over the last weeks. Unity is a much-loved experience that God desires us to have. Let's yank out tent pegs and expand them to include more and more people who trust Jesus for salvation.
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SA101 - fourth edition - is being used (along with editions 1-3) across the world. Hallelujah. It is a training course for soldier recruits. You can get it from your TRADE (if they don't stock it they can order from AUS Trade).
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Remember the poor.
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Today is the day of salvation. If you're not saved, that means that today is the day. If you are saved by Jesus that means that today is the day for us to evangelise anything that moves. God help you.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Africa Zone.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 17, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hbBD;KR;JN)

How's your soul?
----
2 Timothy 2 (NIV)
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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The Twitter experiment continues - if you are on twitter, feel free to follow (top right).
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JAC62 is coming out in a fortnight and the submissions deadline is July 20 (to revolution @ mmccxx.net).
----
Check out Willis Howell's blog (at right) on legacy. And Strickland's, too.
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Holy. now.
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I have heard that some people in The Army want to have 2,000 cadets. There are currently roughly half that number. It is certainly possible. If every corps sent one candidate in, we'd be set. Is God calling you... to be doing what you are doing right now? If not, train up and offer for covenantal, vocationaly, Christian leadership as an officer in The Salvation Army. There is no life like it. And there is nothing I'd rather be doing (though I intend to do it better with God's help that I have).
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If you figure you are a year away from training college there is no better preparation than The War College (thewarcollege.com). The WAR CRY Session starts in September in the States and in Canada and it will provide you with a challenging incarnational experience and field-proven training that will prepare you for a life of hard war-fighting (including but not limited to officership).
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Remember the poor.
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Psalm 51 (NIV)
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

Thank You, Lord, for the joy of Your salvation and a sustaining, willing spirit. God help us to teach transgressors Your ways. We anticipate many sinners will turn back to You. Amen (maybe some today! God help us evangelise effectively)
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the South Pacific East Asia Zone.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 16, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2EC,JL,FK)
How's your soul?
----
Rob Reardon (rob-reardon.blogspot.com), within the last 40 minutes, scooped the salvosphere with the International Conference of Leaders statement, which will monopolise today's post:
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A Spiritual Statement to All Salvationists

The recent International Conference of Leaders, held in London, culminated in every member of the conference being invited to consider prayerfully the following Spiritual Statement.

On the final full day of the conference, a Sunday, those present signed the personal recommitment and rededication in the presence of one another, many doing so at the Mercy Seat.


A Spiritual Statement to Salvationists everywhere from the International Conference of Leaders gathered at Heathrow, London, England, 7-13 July 2009

Conference theme: 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever' (Hebrews 13:8, New International Version)

A Spiritual Statement to the Salvationists of the world from the General, the World President of Women’s Ministries, the Chief of the Staff, all officers holding the active rank of commissioner, and the territorial and command leaders of The Salvation Army gathered in the name of Jesus Christ and by the grace of God in conference in London, England, on 7-13 July 2009.


STATEMENT
WE have gathered in the sacred name of Jesus from every corner of the world. In a spirit of humility we have given time to waiting upon God for his guidance for our own individual and personal lives and also for our sacred responsibilities as Salvation Army leaders under God. We have spent time seeking the will of God in plenary sessions together, in small groups focused upon the Scriptures, and in solitary prayer and meditation. Our subject matter has included the following large themes and topical issues for the whole Army:

– a reaffirmation of the role of the Army, of all Salvationists, and not least of Salvation Army officership, in the building of God’s Kingdom here on earth;
– the building up of God’s Kingdom through an ever-deepening commitment to Christ and personal confidence in the power of the gospel;
– working for Kingdom growth through the Army’s numerical growth and through the establishing of Army work and witness in new lands;
– the Army’s God-given role in working for social relief, social justice and human rights on every continent;
– the challenges of financing the Army’s global mission at a time of global recession;
– the challenge of working in Muslim cultures today;
– understanding current societal trends in relation to postmodernism, issues of gender, the younger generation, and our relations with other Christian bodies;
– the ever-urgent need to win and disciple children and whole families for Christ;
– the constant need to prepare the future leaders of the Army on every continent.

Most importantly of all, we have prayed together with earnest and seeking hearts, asking God to reveal to us with new clarity all he is willing to accomplish through us despite our failings, both personal and organisational. We have pleaded for a renewed spirit of humility, surrender and submission to the divine will for us and for the Army.

We have pondered again before the Lord, who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), a vision of the worldwide Salvation Army kneeling in repentance, prayer and rededication at the Mercy Seat. We have spoken together of all that this might mean for the Army, seeking new grace, new spiritual power, new divine prompting, and asking for and receiving afresh God’s mercy.

As we keep this vision before us, we give heartfelt thanks to God for his blessing upon his Army. We thank and honour him for souls redeemed, lives transformed, and a growing Army of Salvationists offering selfless service across the world. We praise God for the growing number of countries into which he is leading us. We pray for heavenly resources of wisdom and ability in order to meet the many new challenges and opportunities he is giving. We thank him for his constant provision and sustaining grace.

Also we affirm our conviction that, to be truly useful to God, the Army needs to be pure and free from sin, and that senior leaders must, by grace, be effective role models in this. We feel the urging of the Holy Spirit to examine our own hearts afresh to see if there be any wicked way within us. We want to yield again to the demands of divine love, to return to first things, to cast aside distractions unpleasing to God, and to be in a relation of entire obedience to the Father. We acknowledge our constant need of grace.

We renew our sacred vows and covenants as both soldiers and officers of the Army, thanking God from our hearts for the privilege of the calling he has placed upon us. We declare again our availability and our readiness, as senior officers, to go anywhere to do anything at any time under God and within the structures of the Army, seeking only the advancement of his Kingdom.

We acknowledge our humanity and weakness, seeking the unique strength that God provides when we are weak and he is strong. We confess our limitedness, knowing that God is all sufficient. We abandon explicitly any desire that has sprung up in our hearts to place self first.

We ask for the prayers of our fellow Salvationists to help us in this renewal of our covenants as soldiers and as officers, and in so doing we recognise our vulnerability and our personal need of divine help.

In sharing this Spiritual Statement with Salvationists everywhere, it is our hope and prayer that it will be received with humble and understanding hearts, and that by the abundant grace of God it will be used to inspire and prompt others to seek with us repentance, with renewed purity and holiness in Christ.

My Personal Recommitment and Rededication

By adding my signature to this Statement, I wish to identify personally with the spirit of repentance, humility and availability shown by my comrade Salvationist leaders gathered in conference with me in London. With renewed confidence in God, I pledge myself afresh to these shared goals of personal holiness and of seeking to do only his will in all things.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless us as we advance from this statement to world conquest,
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 15, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2JB)

How's your soul?
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The next installment of FAMOUS LAST WORDS is a week tonight in Melbourne but simulcast worldwide via www.salvationarmy.org.ay/sstv. It features Commissioner Earle Maxwell, 'the best general we never had', with Cadet Nathan Rowe leading worship. If you are in Victoria, you'll want to come. Outside of the state, you'll want to tune in 7:30pm Victoria time, 22 July.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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JUSTSalvos has released its latest report that you can read over at justsalvos.com.
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Minnie Rowell had a corps of over a thousand (Perth Fortress) at age 21 (hat tip George Hazell).
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SALVOS OUT THERE is a new initiative that will be hitting a corps or unit near you (if you live in AUS Territory) that aims to mobilise and deploy salvos to win their districts for Jesus. See Commissioner Knaggs and the promo video clip at yout tube, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2HvgloTJQ4 and also visit salvosoutthere.com for more information.
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Holy. now.
----
barnabasfund.org has a great prayer resource and is signing people up to a petition on religious freedom (particularly on the registration of converts from Islam to the Lord Jesus Christ, which, in some countries, has never once been approved, yet). Read up on the Islamic apostasy laws, here:

http://barnabasfund.org/AU/Action/Campaigns/Why-should-they-be-secret/

And sign the petition, here:

http://barnabasfund.org/AU/Action/Campaigns/Why-should-they-be-secret/Online-petition/?m=230%23245%23243%23244
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Junior Soldiers are a great resource in the Salvation War. There are 376,905 around the world (our biggest reading countries on armybarmy have this many JSs: USA - 25,183; Canada - 3,303; Australia - 2,408; UK - 5,392). Here are a couple of pledges Junior Soldiers in the old days signed:

I have seen myself to be a Sinner.
I have confessed my Sins to Jesus.
I believe that Jesus died for me as well as for all the world.
I know it was Sin that caused Jesus to be nailed to the Cross, and my Sin as much as others.
I believe that God has, for Christ's sake, forgiven me.(hat tip Hazell)
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1920s (in NZ) pledge:
I NOW by Jesus' help, turn from all I know to be wicked. I WILL try to be a good Junior by -
a. loving GOd with all my heart.
b. dling all I can to get other boys and girls to come to Jesus.
c. praying every night and morning.
d. doing all I can to help The Salvation Army.
I WILL attend the YP meetings as often as I can.
I WILL read by Bible every day. (hat tip Hazell)
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Remember the poor.
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Kids are key to the kingdom mission. Why not evangelise (with) some kids today?
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 14, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2TS)

How's your soul?
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I'm told that about 17 years ago an American group surveyed a thousand full-time church leaders and found that they put in, on average, three minutes/day in rations (devotional prayer/Bible).

I'm told that the Salvos in one territory did the same thing on a much smaller scale with officers and the result was two minutes/day.

Unfathomable. (hat tip IH) If you'd be hurting those stats, pray; read your Bible.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Better statistical news: The Salvation Army is larger than ever and growing faster than Christianity as a whole (see Commissioner Knaggs's blog for details).
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Holy. now.
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Don't forget to pray for our General and comrades around the world each day at lunch.
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Speaking of the first high council (as we were yesterday), it was noted to me that CLASH isn't considered scandalous (since amended) - it is Four Bonnets to Golgotha that is scandalous (such that The Army apparently bought up as many copies as possible to remove them from circulation?). (hat tip CH/AS)
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Remember the poor.
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Some people just don't want to hear the gospel. But those people especially need it. Try to find a way to get it to them.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless our leaders.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 13, 2009. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!

How's your soul?
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The International Conference of Leaders ends this morning. Now the excitement begins. Let's pray expectantly. There will likely be a statement forthcoming in the hours (or days) to come. If you hear of it before you read it here, let us know so that we cna share it with everyone (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Welcome, international readers. The new memory verse summarises eternal life and how to get there ('God's Son' is Jesus). It is 1 John 5:11-12:

وهذه هي الشهادة ان الله اعطانا حياة ابدية وهذه الحياة هي في ابنه. 12 من له الابن فله الحياة ومن ليس له ابن الله فليست له الحياة

這 見 證 就 是 神 賜 給 我 們 永 生 ； 這 永 生 也 是 在 他 兒 子 裡 面 。 12 人 有 了 神 的 兒 子 就 有 生 命 ， 沒 有 神 的 兒 子 就 沒 有 生 命 。

Свидетельство сие состоит в том, что Бог даровал нам жизнь вечную, и сия жизнь в Сыне Его. 12 Имеющий Сына (Божия) имеет жизнь; не имеющий Сына Божия не имеет жизни.

"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.
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Holy. now.
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Recently I re-read Phil Wall's I'LL FIGHT: Holiness at war. Well done, Phil Wall. Anywy, in a section called "Theology of Fanaticism" (which he is explaining and advocating) he has this bit:

"The tragedy of liberal thinking and theology that has stripped the Bible of so much of its power in people's minds, is that it bases its thinking on the crumbling edifice of rationalism. A no-hope leap into the philosophical dark with nothing to say to a desperate world living with the consequences of reality" (p174).

What's the answer? He quote Billy Graham, when challenged about miracles in the Bible: "Because the Bible begins 'In the beginning God created...' I would have believed it if it had said that Jonah had swallowed the whale!" (p174).
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Remember the poor.
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Recently I read CLASH OF THE CYMBALS. It wasn't scandalous (apparently Four Bonnets to Golgotha is), but it is probably not the first source you'll want to consider in reading up on the first High Council. Anyway, it is noteworthy to hear a contemporary secular voice speak so highly of William Booth (and others) and The Army, even in the midst of the portrayal of that tragic story. Here is an incidental comment on early Army initiatives that depicts the negativity of the day and the ethnicity of the Founder: "a hook-nosed Jew pawnbroker busy lining his nest" (p20. Many suggest Booth was Jewish).
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Friendship Evangelism appears to be by far the most effective means of evangelism. So why not evangelise one of your friends today!
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the neo Salvos (from Durston's 'many voices').
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
----
International Conference of Leaders - last full day. Theme: Under the Feet of Christ.

1 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy and not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you (v. 17)

What does ‘obey your leaders’ mean in today’s world? What kinds of leaders are needed for the future? Where is authority found? What is accountability? Is leadership a burden or a joy to you?

2 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honourably in every way. I particularly pray so that I may be restored to you soon (v.18, 19)

‘Pray for us’: what is summed up in this request?

3 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (v. 20, 21)

Discuss this prayer, and its powerful phrases. How do you think God is equipping you for the daily task of leadership? What qualities are needed by the Christian leader? How can we please God?

4 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you (v. 22, 23)

Discuss how important it is to exhort, to write, and to meet face to face, to keep the bonds of Christian fellowship.

5 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send their greetings. Grace be with you all (v. 24, 25)

How can we best encourage and value local leaders and local disciples of Christ? How can we best make our communications gracious and pleasing to God?
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Here is some of the Vancouver downtown eastside stuff we posted last week:
By the numbers
82: Percentage of Downtown Eastside residents living alone.
38: Percentage of residents without a high-school diploma
$6,282: The average annual income, minus government subsidies.
60: Percentage of residents not considered participants in the labour force.
14: Percentage of area residents of aboriginal descent
7: Percentage of residents yet to reach the age of majority.
59: Percentage of residents who have moved in the past five years.
39: Percentage of Canadian residents who have moved in the past five years.
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Holy. now.
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Jeremy Taylor, from HOLY LIVING, on prayer to be used in the night, when we awake.

"Stand in awe and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. I will lay me down in peace and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety.Psalm iv. 4, 9.

"O Father of spirits, and the God of all flesh, have mercy and pity upon all sick and dying Christians, and receive the souls which thou hast redeemed returning unto thee.

"Blessed are they that dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem, where there is no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God does lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.Rev. xxi. 23. And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle; for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.Rev. xxii. 5.

"Meditate on Jacob’s wrestling with the angel all night: he thou also importunate with God for a blessing, and give not over till he hath blessed thee.

"Meditate on the angel passing over the children of Israel, and destroying the Egyptians for disobedience and oppression. Pray for the grace of obedience and charity, and for the Divine protection.

"Meditate on the angel who destroyed in a night the whole army of the Assyrians for fornication. Call to mind the sins of thy youth, the sins of thy bed; and say with David, ‘My reins chasten me in the night season, and my soul refuseth comfort.’ Pray for pardon and the grace of chastity.

"Meditate on the agonies of Christ in the garden, his sadness and affliction all that night; and thank and adore him for his love, that made him suffer so much for thee; and hate thy sins which made it necessary for the Son to suffer so much.

"Meditate on the last four things. 1. The certainty of death. 2. The terrors of the day of judgment. 3. The joys of heaven. 4. The pains of hell: and the eternity of both.

"Think upon all thy friends who are gone before thee; and pray that God would grant to thee to meet them in a joyful resurrection.

"“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; Pet. iii. 10. in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up. Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God?”

"Lord, in mercy remember thy servant in the day of judgment.

"Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God. In thee, O Lord, have I trusted: let me never be confounded. Amen.

"I desire the Christian reader to observe, that all these offices or forms of prayer (if they should be used every day) would not spend above an hour and a half: but because some of them are double (and so but one of them to be used in one day) it is much less: and by affording to God one hour in twenty-four thou mayest have the comforts and rewards of devotion. But he that thinks this is too much, either is very busy in the world, or very careless of heaven. I have parted the prayers into smaller portions, that he may use which and how many he please in any one of the forms.
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Remember the poor.
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Go for souls, and for the worst.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble
God bless the Salvo radicals (from Durston's Many Voices).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 11, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2RF)

How's your soul?
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The International Conference of Leaders continues. No news of revival or supernatural manifestations or ... yet. Keep praying. Check Knaggs for updates.

Today's theme: Today's Children, Tomorrow's Leaders.

They'll dig in on getting kids saved. They will discuss William Booth's first new title in a century- ESSENTIAL MEASURES (available at your Trade) in the context of senior leadership identification and preparation. And they'll summarise everything and discuss action that emerges from the discussion.
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ICL Bible study questions:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by the eating of ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who observe such rituals. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat (v. 8, 9, 10)

What is meant by ‘it is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace’? What do the
words ‘we have an altar’ mean to you? (See Salvation Army Song Book, song 199:1,
and chorus 34.)

2 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the most holy place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood (v. 11, 12)

How does the sacrifice of Jesus supersede ceremony? How would the Jews feel
about this? Discuss and describe the importance of being made holy through his
blood. (See Salvation Army Song Book 495: 1.)

3 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore (v. 13)

Name places where The Salvation Army is giving sacrificial service. Describe how
this happens. What are the modern equivalents of places ‘outside the camp’ and who
are living there?

4 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city which is
to come (v.14)

In your experience, do Salvationists live like this, looking for the city to come?
(General Coutts used ‘No Continuing City’ as the title of his autobiography.)

5 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased (v. 16)

What does this mean to you? Is it a sacrifice for you, continually offering praise,
even through difficult times?
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Unity is under-rated.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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FAMOUS LAST WORDS (the book) gets significant plugs in THE OFFICER and SALVATIONIST. If yuo haven't picked up your copy, hit your nearest trade (online or in person) and make it right.
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Piper v Wright on justification in Christianity Today seemed a little confusing. Sanctification (both process and crisis) clarifies their confusion.
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US churches pour $4bil annually into overseas missions and 12% of church types have gone on mission trips (both stats significantly UP - hat tip Christianity Today June 2009).
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There are different ways to approach the economic pressures many are facing. St. Edwards Church in Nashville gave away $117,000 to families with children (about $250/family) with no strings attached (hat tip Leadership Mag).
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Holy. now.
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Barna says that 38% of 18-25 year-olds 'hooked up' last week. Sinners sin. That's what they are and that's what they do. You can't be shocked (though you feel you should be).
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Andrew Marin (Marin Foundation - Danielle Strickland, at right, has blogged on him) says that 86% of the GLBT community were raised in church. He says that it is not 'us v. them' but 'us v us'.
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Remember the poor.
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Many of us find it difficult to evangelise. But remember that God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. And remember what your life was like before you got saved (purposeless, insecure, lonely, empty...). That is roughly how independents (people living independently of Jesus) are right now. Then go hard!
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Salvo Seeker-Sensitives (from Durston's 'many voices').
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 10, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2EB,JK,ZS,SL)

How's your soul?
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International Conference of Leaders, Day 4 - theme - The World Today. Topics: money, Islam, postmodernism, gender, youth, ecumenism, Hebrews 13:8-16.
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Catherine Booth, in a letter to one of her sons:
'I hope the Lord will make you so miserable everywhere and at everything else that you will be compelled to preach! Oh, my boy, the Lord wants such as you - just such - to go out amongst the people, seeking nothing but the things that are Jesus Christ's! You are free to do it; able by His grace; born to do it, with splendid opportunities. Will you not rise to your destiny? "Have courage, and be strong, and I (the I Am) will be with thee." "Get thee out, and I will go with thee." Dare you not take hold of the arm that holds the world and all things up? And if you do, can you fail? The Lord gird you with His strength, and make your brow brass, and your tongue as a flame of fire. You must preach!'
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International Conference of Leaders continues. Keep praying...
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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To another, she writes: -
'You may, perhaps, be wanted to stand and do battle for the Lord. Surely you will not sell your birthright? The Lord help you! Take hold of David's God. Hold your head up, keep your shoulders back, and go forward.'

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Holy. now.
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Major Jo Norton was promoted to Glory. Here are a few remembrances:

http://lifeoflyndall.wordpr...

http://www.24-7prayer.com/b...
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Remember the poor.
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"This is what the World wants--holy people; and nothing else will do. We have tried everything else. You Christian people from other divisions of the Lord's forces, you have tried Bibles, and preaching, and singing, and services, and Sunday-schools. I have been lately to a part of the country where they told me that nearly every member of the population had passed through their Sunday-schools, and yet there are men there who will drag a young girl down a flight of stone stairs and kick her till she is black and blue. The great mass of the people who took part in the Lancashire Riots have passed through your Sunday-schools." Catherine Booth

Holy evangelism - God help us in it, today.
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God is here.
God bless the Salvo Pentecostals (from Durston's "Many Voices" article).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

International Conference of Leaders - Day 3. Let God's Army Grow. Today includes discussion on our present size, reports on "Come Join Our Army" (USA), "Our Territorial Centenary Vision" (Korea - which is cool!), new openings, cadet statistics, and discussion on global faith goals! Pray. (read today's post below)

July 9, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2SO)

How's your soul?
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Here is Catherine Booth on GODLINESS:

"I was so touched, yesterday, by hearing a story from Paris, told by a young woman who has returned, and was telling me about my precious child. The story was this: A woman came, one morning, and asked for the lady. They tried to put her off, and asked, 'Will not some one else do?' 'No,' said the woman; 'I do want to see the lady herself.' They said, 'You can't see her today--she is too ill!' 'Then,' she said, 'when can I see her?' They appointed a time the next afternoon, and then this poor woman came, and she told this story: 'I did hear, six years ago, that there was somebody could take the devil out. Now, see, I have got a devil in, and he do make me wicked and miserable, and I do want him taken out, and I've been running about these six years to find somebody who could pull him out. I've been to lots of priests, but they could not pull him out, because they had a devil in them; and, you see, when there's a devil in me and a devil in them, we got to fighting, and they could not pull him out.' What a comment on, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" Of course, nobody can put a devil out who has a devil in them. The poor old woman's sense told her this. 'And,' she continued, 'a gentleman told me that this lady who has come here is able to pull him out, and I have come to her to do it, for I do want him pulled out.' Oh, yes! I thought that is what poor humanity wants all the world over. THEY WANT PEOPLE WHO CAN CAST THE DEVIL OUT--people who have in them Holy Ghost power to do it. Oh! will you be such an one?"
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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The Pope's new encyclical is out and here are some links you might like:

Joseph Bottum from First Things on the Pope's Caritas in Veritate #6: http://www.firstthings.com/

Q+A on the Pope's new encyclical: http://bit.ly/tHNBl

And a great analysis by George Weigel of the Pope's encyclical: http://bit.ly/xdB6b
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Here is a link on the Canadian PM and how he might open with the Pope (hat tip Michael Ramsay):

http://thestar.blogs.com/politics/2009/07/good-icebreaker-for-conversation-with-the-pope.html
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Holy. now.
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The Canadian SALVATIONIST just ran an article by Major Dawn Howse, who has served 20 years in Africa, on miracles, here: http://salvationist.ca/2009/07/divine-intervention/

We give God glory for the faith-building testimony of a sacrificial servant.
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Remember the poor.
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The stats for Vancouver's downtown eastside are ridiculous, but real:
http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090209.wdtes_whatworks0209/BNStory/thefix/

Here's a youtube slideshow getting some hits on Vancouver's downtown eastside (hat tip Matt Champ):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krg8dVKirz0
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'This is what the world wants: men of one idea - that of getting people saved. There are plenty of men of one idea - that of gold-getting. They make no secret of it; they are of a worldly spirit. Now we want men who are set on soul-saving, who are not ashamed to let everybody know it - men of a Christ-like spirit. There need be no mistake or mystery about it. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Paul and every other man of like spirit has had his fruits, and will have to the end of time. It is "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts."' Catherine Booth.

Have at it!
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God is here.
God bless Salvo Traditionals (from Durston's "Many Voices" article)
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 8, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2JO;EM;RC)

How's your soul?
----
A Taste of the blogroll at right...

Willis Howell's Line in the Sand is another great post - you'd think he was throwing up chapters from a forthcoming book (it was be a good book!).

Michael Ramsays's Eschatalogical Hurricane is another simple and powerful application, like Howell's.

Danielle Strickland's poverty video is something you'll probably want to catch, too.

Andrew Bale's testimony is stirring - God is merciful and gracious (be warned - there is an appael at the end!). :-)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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The International Conference of Leaders is into Day Two. Don't forget to pray for the members. God could do anything there!

Today is JUSTICE Day at the conference. They'll discuss the International Social Justice Commission, Human Trafficking, and Human Rights.

And Hebrews 13:1-7 will guide their discussion:
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1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (v.1, 2)

Would strangers notice that we have love for one another? How good are we at
welcoming strangers, especially if they are of another race or language?

2 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who mistreated you as if you yourselves were suffering (v. 3)

What is our attitude to people in prison? Is The Salvation Army still fulfilling Jesus’ teaching about visiting those in prison? (See Matthew 25: 36 and 43.)

3 Marriage should be honoured by all and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (v. 4)
How effectively are we teaching the sanctity of marriage and sexual purity?

Are we balancing this with compassion for those who fail?

4 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (Deut 31: 6). So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can human beings do to me?’ (Psalm 118: 6,7) (v.5, 6)

What are the challenges of materialism and how are our people affected?
In which places do Salvationists live in fear? How can we help them?

5 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith’ (v.7)

Share with one another about people who are role models to you and who exemplify
the Christian way of life. Where is our Christian and Salvation Army heritage found
and in what ways is it important?
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Holy. now.
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Unity is a good word for the season. God loves it. Satan hates it. Let's celebrate the things we have in common with all kinds of Christians from all walks of life. Regulars will note the ecumenical blessings at the bottom of posts for the last while. We're running out of major denominations, but we want God to bless them all. We who are Christians have more in common with each Christian from any of those denominations than we do with any family members who aren't saved. And, God bless you who read armybarmy. It is a faithful crew, and I appreciate it. May you sense God's love, acceptance, and forgiveness in your war-fighting today. And may He pour out grace, mercy, and peace on you.
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Remember the poor.
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I know a Christian guy who was friends with another guy for years. The other guy knew my buddy is a Christian and admired that and everything. One day my buddy was hanging out with him and said he'd like to tell him why he is a Christian. They sat down and my buddy testified and somewhat mechanically went through the Four Spiritual Laws (gospel presentation). His friend decided to repent and believe. I reckon it was 20 years ago. I checked in with my buddy recently and found out this guy is still following Jesus, his family now a church-going clan.

Why not make an opportunity to tell a friend the clear, persuasive gospel, today?
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Church of God (denomination).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 7, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2E/WC)

How's your soul?
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The International Conference of Leaders starts today. How are you praying especially for them? (hint - pray for revival)

Why are they meeting?

1 to honour God.
2 to assess the army's current effectiveness in the world.
3 to refocus upon the primary mission of the army: the saving of souls
and the meeting of human need in Christ's name.
4 to allow senior army leaders to go deeper into Christ by praying,
worshipping and thinking together.
5 to spend time in the scriptures together.
6 to strategise together for the army's future work and witness.
7 to renew our personal commitment to our sacred callings as
officers of the army.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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How's this for an old Bible? (hat tip Simon R):
http://www.codex-sinaiticus.net/en/manuscript.aspx
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Holy. now.
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Welcome to international readers. There is a classic verse for this week - also our memory verse. 2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us the Gospel on a thumbnail. It is a wonderful truth but an even better experience (revolution @ mmccxx.net for inquiries):

اذا ان كان احد في المسيح فهو خليقة جديدة. الاشياء العتيقة قد مضت. هوذا الكل قد صار جديدا.

若 有 人 在 基 督 裡 ， 他 就 是 新 造 的 人 ， 舊 事 已 過 ， 都 變 成 新 的 了 。

Итак, кто во Христе, [тот] новая тварь; древнее прошло, теперь все новое.

Taigi, jei kas yra Kristuje, tas yra naujas kūrinys. Kas sena­ praėjo, štai visa tapo nauja.

http://www.codex-sinaiticus.net/en/manuscript.aspx?=Submit%20Query&book=39&chapter=5&lid=en&side=r&verse=17&zoomSlider=0 (Greek, from codex sinaiticus)

So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence.
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Remember the poor.
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Be the revolution you want to see. Go evangelise that neighbour or that person across the hallway or across the cafe. We what God wants to do.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the New Apostolic Church.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 6, 2009. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(ha2P/SY;hb2GSR;AB)

How's your soul?
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prayer alert: The international conference of leaders for The Salvation Army starts tomorrow. Every leader of every territory and command is meeting in London for a week of prayer and strategising.

If you are looking for the perfect conditions for revival, here they are. The whole Salvation Army is represented with all of the spiritual authority that entails, all in one room for a bunch of days, focussed on God.

Why not undertake some extraordinary prayer for this important event?
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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I heard that during a recent campaign 2,000 (yes, 2,000) people made decisions for holiness. Hallelujah! There is a holiness revival happening as we speak, in a difficult part of the world. Pray for it. And join it. And spread it.
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Holy. now.
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The Twitter experiment continues (top right).
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JAC62 submissions are being received at revolution @ mmccxx.net
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Remember the poor.
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What is in you tends to leak out. As you stuff yourself full of God, God tends to leak out. Stuff yourself full today and let Him leak out in your conversations evangelistically.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Assemblies of God.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 5, 2009. (updated)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2LN;MM)

How's your soul?
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Tomorrow the birthday of George Scott Railton. That legendary warrior of Jesus lived a life that should inspire us all in our devotion to the Lord and commitment to rescuing the hell-bound. Here is just a taste of his stuff (reading his books would fill you up):

"The life of a soul-saver is the grandest, merriest, strangest life that can be lived on earth--the life of Jesus lived over again in us. It will cost you all, but it will be a good bargain at that!"

"We are revolutionists. We know that we have passed from death unto life, and we insist on the necessity of the same sweeping change in every human being. With cries of 'Death unto sin' and 'Life unto righteousness,' we go on, determined to turn the world upside down. We are not philosophers or the theorists of revolution; but its agents. Merely to recommend revolution is contemptible. We must make it. Glad indeed would we be if any word of ours could go forth to slumbering Christians and slumbering churches, and awake them to the fight; but it is only what is done by direct personal effort that can be called sure work, in a revolution."

"We are an army of soldiers of Christ seeking no church status, avoiding as we would the plague every denominational rut, in order perpetually to reach more and more of those who live outside every church boundary."

"Dare ye still lie fondly dreaming Wrapped in ease and worldly scheming While the multitudes are streaming Downwards into hell?"
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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I AM at odds with one statement he made:

"I intend carefully to instruct my children that if at any time they see The Salvation Army a wealthy, respectable concern, the majority of whose "soldiers" simply go where they please to attend its' "ministrations," leaving the godless undisturbed to perish; and if they see another set of people, however they may be clothed or despised, who really give up all to go for the lost, then they must not for a moment hesitate to leave the concern their poor old dad helped to make, and go out amongst those who most faithfully carry out what the founder of the Army laid down in his writings and acts. May God preserve them from such a day by keeping the Army free from the love of money and ease."

His children left, if I understand my history correctly. But, though the thought makes sense, the counsel seems completely off. One would think that GSR of all people would counsel his children to stay in and fight and transform the movement so that God could use optimise its potential again. Covenant demands it.
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Holy. now.
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The Twitter experiment continues (top right).
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Have you read JAC61? It is full of edification. Meanwhile submissions for JAC62 can be made at revolution @ mmccxx.net .
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Remember the poor.
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Is the life of a soul-saving costing you all (see GSR above)? If not, why not catch up on your payments today in your evangelising? "It will be a bargain."
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Quakers.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 4, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(b2TH;N)

How's your soul?
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Big celebration for the States, today. Pray continually.
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Here is Brengle on shouting (out-take from a whole chapter):

"The devil often throws a spell over people that can be broken in no other way.
and....

"But there are others who wait on God in secret places, who seek His face with their whole hearts, who groan in prayer with unutterable longing to know God in all His fullness and to see His kingdom come with power; who plead the promises, who search the word of God and meditate on it day and night, until they are full of the great thought and truths of God, and faith is made perfect. Then the Holy Ghost comes pressing down on them with an eternal weight of glory that compels praise, and when they shout it takes effect. Every cartridge is loaded, and at times their shouting will be like the boom of a big gun, and will have the speed and power of a missile.
and.....

"praise Him whether they feel like it or not, praise Him in the darkness as well as the light, praise Him in seasons of fierce conflict as well as in moments of victory; they will soon be able to shout aloud for joy. And their joy no man will be able to take from them, but God will make them to drink of the river of His pleasures, and He Himself will be their "exceeding joy."
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He's talking at a much deeper level than most of us comprehend.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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We're experimenting with Twitter. If you are on and want to follow along, go to StephenCourt.
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We're accepting submissions for JAC62 now. If you have something provocative, challenging, pro-Army, orthodox... that you think might edify thousands of readers, please fire something off in the next fortnight to revolution @ mmccxx.net.
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Holy. now.
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The War College (Vancouver, Chicago campuses) are wrapping up their recruiting for the September 2009 session - War Cry. If you are looking for a life-transformative experience check out thewarcollege.com. I know first-hand that on one of the campuses the incarnational, bi-vocational, cell-based, poor-saturated community enveloped in extraordinary prayer is a rich, rich environment.
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Remember the poor.
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We're always looking to see people get saved and are blessed and challenged by lots of people who do it so well. We've noted that there are some common characteristics of such people. They go out to evangelise (that is, they don't only wait for it to come to them). They are trained up. They have no unconfessed sin in their lives, allowing Holy Spirit to fill and guide them and share with them compassion that drives them with zeal. Why not tick the boxes for yourself and then evangelise today?
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Congregationalists.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

July 3, 2009.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
He is risen!
(hb2HM)

How's your soul?
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Today's a big day in one outpost I know. They are enrolling their first batch of junior soldiers. It is a good looking crew and I expect that God will use them mightily on the earth over the next 90 years or so, unless Jesus comes back sooner.
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For those interested in Dominion Day, Michael Ramsay (blogs at right) has more stuff than we offered.

For those interested in Founders Day, David Collinwson (blogs at right) has more stuff than we offered.

And, Danielle Strickland (blogs at right), tackles both days.
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A prayer for bandsmen: “Especially I have prayed that you, each one of you, may be as ambitious to excel in spirituality and the finest Salvationism and Christlike-ness, as you are to excel as instrumentalists, and that you may encourage each other in spiritual things as earnestly and successfully as you to in things musical. … So I pray that you may not become standardised in your experience, for that will mean that you all sink to a common dead level of mediocre spirituality, with no passion for souls… I verily believe that the bandsmen of the country, working together, could start such revivals in the Army as we have not known for many years.” Samuel Logan Brengle (hat tip David Rightmire for SLB quotes today).
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Brengle identified six types of Salvo evangelistic sowing:

tears, prayers, testimonies, songs of the Army, literature, saintly lives.
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Holy. now.
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Brengle on the demonic:

“Satanic possession… which manifests itself in pride, quickness to take offence, jealousy and suspicion, shame of the Cross, covetousness and selfishness, evil temper and ungodly ambition. Surely power to reveal these hiding places of the devil, and to cast him out… is needed, and ought to be coveted by every soul-winner” (Brengle, in Rightmire, “Brengle on Evangelism and the Holy Life”, WORD AND DEED, November 2003).
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Brengle on revival:

“The selfish spirit of the world calls for a revival. The profiteering of greedy capitalists, and the strikes of laboroers, regardless of the welfare of the consumers; the aged, the inform and the little children call down the wrath of God upon our generation for the sin of covetousness, and to change this condition of society and avert the righteous and certain wrath of God we need a revival that will fill the hearts of men with reverent consideration for their fellows, with brotherly love for all men, and joy in service and sacrifice for one another.” SLB.

Or, holiness is the solution to every problem.
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Remember the poor.
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Let's help start the revival for which Brengle calls. Be the revolution you want to see. Evangelise hard.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Brethren.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
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Holy Founders Day! What a great celebration day for all salvos everywhere. We look back with wonder at God's spectacular creativity in starting The Salvation Army. We look back with gratitude to Him for Catherine and William Booth and their cadre of revolutionists (Railton, Cadman, Dean, Tucker, Pearson, Dowdle, Brengle, et al). We look back with joy at the millions saved through the faithful war-fighing of those who have gone before.

We look ahead with eyes of faith to see greater things in store for an Army that prostrates itself at the feet of Jesus. We look ahead with humility to imagine what God can do with a bunch of people dead to sin. We look ahead with growing hearts that will be able to compassion a whole world as we press in to Him and press on to the war.

Hallelujah. God, help us.
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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Here is a nice testimony of a high school kid who evangelised a guy in the online gaming world and he got saved - hallelujah:

http://www.ccci.org/growth/reach-your-world/creatively-communicating-gospel-technology.aspx
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Holy. now.
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For those who would like to know God personally, try this site:

http://ccci.org/wij/index.aspx Would you like to know God personally?
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For those who would like to know how to share their testimony (pretty simple site):

http://www.5clicks.com/
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Remember the poor.
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"I am convinced of one thing: at least 50 percent of all nonbelievers would receive Christ if properly approached by a trained, Spirit-filled believer who can communicate God's love and forgiveness revealed through our Lord Jesus." - Dr. Bill Bright

So, are you one of the 50% of nonbelievers who would get saved? Try reading the 'know God personally' link above. Are you one of the 50% of nonbelievers who would not get saved? Why not (revolution @ mmccxxx.net)? Are you a trained, Spirit-filled believer who can communicate God's love and forgiveness? Great! Get at it, today. If you are a believer without those adjectives, get those adjectives (revolution @ mmccxx.net).
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Vineyard.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

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

How's your soul?
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Happy Dominion Day in Canada. The 'dominion' refers to God's dominion. Canada is properly called the Dominion of Canada, based on Psalm 72:8:

"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."
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US tv network NBC, on its show, Dateline, has a five-minute clip on St. Petersburg Downtown Corps, here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30770696#30770696 (hat tip Cory Harrison)
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The kingdom of God is at hand.
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"Apostolic urgency often comes head to head with prophetic scrutiny over this issue of leadership as the desire to move fast and to fulfil current needs often overwhelms the need for it to be done properly" (Rowan Castle).
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Holy. now.
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Here's a piece on finding the bones of the apostle Paul. Now, these things usually garner passing interest, but they found the bones in his grave. It doesn't like much of a stretch. You may be interested in the article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196439/Have-body-St-Paul.html

(hat tip Derek Pluchinski) - but, do you know what (and, though cheesy, I can't let it slip by)? They'll never find the bones of the Lord Jesus Christ!
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Here is a piece on the role of the church on decreasing prison rape in America:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YzFmYzFkZDJlMzBmMzdiMDE3ZGFkODJiZDQ3NmY4N2E=
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Daniel Goldman on It Takes A Congregation...

http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2009/06/it-takes-a-congregation
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Meanwhile, Xander Coleman has just finished up a great series on UKI Territory values. You'll want to check it out at right.
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And, it is commencement time insome parts of the world. Here is a tight grad speech by Neil Postman that was never delivered:

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/06/26/athenians-and-visigoths-neil-postmans-graduation-speech/#more-4454
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We're experimenting with Twitter (top right) - feel free to follow.
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Remember the poor.
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The old chestnut of not wanting to jeapardise people's eternal destiny by potentially offending them with the timing and style of initiative evangelism fails to consider the role of the Holy Spirit who has been working on individuals in different ways in many cases for years. Don't let it stop you from co-labouring with Holy Spirit today in your evangelising.
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God is here.
God help us all be humble.
God bless the Anabaptists.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court