Armybarmy Blog

I wonder what that looks like to God. I am envisioning a young child standing with their hands on their hips, pursed lips and stamping their foot, in a whiny voice proclaiming...but it's just TOO HARD. I don't WANT to keep going.
But if you don't who will? What's that saying? Be the change you want to see?
But no, these days, it's all about convenience...what I can 'get' out of it. And we are an accomodating bunch in the church aren't we? Asking newcomers after a service/program "So, what did you think?" as though our time worshipping in the House of God was a newly released movie. We 'review' it...the soloist was 'off', the preach was bland...harsh...not grounded in the Word...too theological...
What are we even here for?
I am reminded of Paul's words in Galatians 1:10

"Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's slave."

"He did not, in his doctrine, accommodate himself to the humours of persons, either to gain their affection or to avoid their resentment; but his great care was to approve himself to God. The judaizing teachers, by whom these churches were corrupted, had discovered a very different temper; they mixed works with faith, and the law with the gospel, only to please the Jews, whom they were willing to court and keep in with, that they might escape persecution." (Matthew Henry Commentary)

...whom they were willing to court. We, the body, also have that willingness to flirt with both believers and non-believers. Like a whore will paint herself up with garish makeup and package her body into ill-fitting, vulgar clothing to attract a date, so will we the body...the bride of Christ...prostitute ourselves to the world unashamedly to bring in the numbers, to fill the pews.
Don't pretend to be shocked, you know we do it.
Trying to be trendy. Cutting edge. When did we slip from being just in the world to being of it? What was our imaginary line in the sand?
Looking around my neighbourhood, I see women, 'working girls' in one of two situations. Firstly, they have become so blinded to their own situation that they don't even realize their own hideousness. Anyone can see what they are, they're not fooling anyone. They are a hideous deviation of God's plan for their lives. We can see it, but they can't see their own repugnance. They are blind to their reality, lying to themselves. Are we like that?
Then there are the others...they see what they've become. But there have been too many wrongs, they are living out of habit. Too many blow jobs in back alleys, too many lays in infested hotel rooms. Where did they go wrong? It doesn't matter. They've been in bed with the world for far too long, no turning back now.
How is that like a church? People can see right through our garish disguse...and if we succeed in deceiving the people, we certainly aren't fooling God. He sees what we've become, distorting His Word, bending the rules to better 'attract' sinners. We think we are beautiful, when He's recoiling from us. Or on the otehr hand, we know we're off track. But it's paying off right? Large congregations, public favour, big money...so what if we glazed over some stuff...what counts is butts in the seats...besides, if we changed now what would we do with ourselves?
Where do we fit in?
Or can we honestly say with Paul that

Greetings my brothers and sisters in Christ!
We have an inheritance as a sons and daughters of the King. That includes eternal life and grace but there's more. I'm talking about the plans He has for us. Plans to PROSPER us. Plans for a HOPE and a FUTURE! And He IS revealing that plan to each of us. For some it may be bit by bit and for others it's more like a smack-in-the-forehead all-at-once sorta thing. We must keep our eyes open and our vision clear! Not clouded over by our own intentions and small-time human plans. Kingdom plans are always WAY better than anything we could have thought up for ourselves. I thought that I was experiencing a life of fullness and abundance, but I was mistaken. There is more. I'm realizing that as believers, there is a mighty power that is at work for us. A Kingdom power.
"By His mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope." Ephesians 3:20
A power to take our lives and make them more than we could ever imagine. I'm not just talking about a 12 volt battery kinda power...This is the same power that rose Christ Jesus from the dead! wooHOO!
God is using that kind of power in my life right now to accomplish Kingdom plans here at The War College. He wants to do the same thing for you.
What is your life going to count for?
Are you running on your own power? (Which is feeble at best?)
Are you busy making your own plans for life?
I tell you friends, if that's the case then satan's giving out high fives to all the demons, because you are selling yourselves short. It's easy to be satisfied with what the world dictates is 'your life'. To get caught up in fear. Consider this:
"Many of us are fearful - afraid to give up things, give up people, give up plans and dreams, afraid to go places, afraid to really live an extreme life for Jesus...Our parents and peers urge us to get the best deal our of life. We gradually conform ourselves to everyone else's expectations and fears. We exchange the chance to have a life in order to simply make a living. We content ourselves with what we have been told is to be our life. The world for God? Too big a task, too much of a mess, too scary a thought." ~Geoff Ryan, Sowing Dragons
I've been praying hard core lately for God's people to know a life of fullness and abundance, and my prayer for you today reading this is that the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would give you each spiritual wisdom and understanding. I want your hearts to be flooded with His light so that you can understand the wonderful future and inheritance that He has planned for each of His sons and daughters - and then to go for it.
posted by Heather Wright
The War College
Death and Glory Session

December 29, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I recently saw BRUCE ALMIGHTY, in which Bruce is delegated God's job for a week. I was blown away by Bruce trying to use his omnipotence to make his girlfriend love him. She shook her head like he was weird and walked away.

His omnipotence was powerless in light of her free will. And though he was very frustrated with her, almost angry, he crumpled back in a quandary, torn by the fact that his love for her far outweighed his anger.

I thought it was a pretty good shot at depicting God in light of sinners and sin. How we must hurt Him.

On a slightly lighter note, I'm a big guy on consistency and so have made sure that this blog has been up daily since its inception. But I'm headed today for several days to a place where I might likely lack access to it. So, if I don't blog, please bear with me and check back by the 7th or 8th at the latest (although if I have access I will definitely shoot my mouth off as usual). Thanks heaps. Have a supernatural New Year!
posted by Stephen Court

December 28, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Ubuntu

Paul Hewson is one of the most famous people on the planet. He has written many of the songs of the past two generations. A child of a mixed marriage, Catholic and Protestant, he sought some spiritual direction in the early 1980s with a group called Shalom. Some time before that he picked up a nickname that grew on him as it grew in accuracy. They called him Bono Vox, or ‘good voice’.

Bono is the lead singer of the rock band, U2, which has sold well over 100 million albums and won 14 Grammys. U2 has tightwalked an extremely rare rope, bridging relevance in two generations.

Bono jumped on the advocacy bandwagon early, in the mid 1980s, with BandAid and “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (sold 50 million singles), (Band Aid raised more than $144 million during the seven years of its existence- http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/pop/liveaid.htm . January 3, 2004), and LiveAid (the live concert seen by 1.9 billion people, and raising $70 million- http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/pop/liveaid.htm. January 3, 2004), both of which fought the famine in Ethiopia. After Live Aid, Bono actually went to Ethiopia, where the famine was killing thousands of people. One day, an Ethiopian man asked Bono to take his son and raise him.

"He is sure to die. But if you take him, he is sure to live," the father told Bono.

At that point, Africa no longer was a cause for Bono. It became a calling (David Waters, Commercial Appeal: Bono hopes you, too, will care. 13/12/2003. http://www.u2world.com/news/article.php3?id_article=20255).

Since then he has led the JUBILEE 2000 Drop The Debt initiative and created a group called Debt, AIDS and Trade in Africa (DATA) to organize his efforts for Africa. He is effectively using his mass appeal as a platform to make these crises popular issues. Jubilee 2000 was an appeal to western nations to cancel the debt owed by African countries. About 24 million people signed the petition. January 3, 2004). G8 countries agreed to forgive Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debts (http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m2548/2001_March/73411097/p2/article.jhtml?term=. March 2001) totaling $100 billion (http://www.jubileeplus.org/jubilee2000/jubilee2000_archive/uganda020500.htm. 02 May 2000, Jubilee 2000 Press Release). DATA tackles the AIDS crisis, the Trade crisis, the Debt crisis, and the Development Asssistance crisis (http://www.datadata.org/whyafrica/. January 4, 2004). He has been called Africa’s number One advocate in the West (David Waters, Commercial Appeal : Bono hopes you, too, will care. 13/12/2003. http://www.u2world.com/news/article.php3?id_article=20255).

Early on Bono was convicted about the essential role of faith in solving the problem.

"I really do feel, looking at this problem so out of control, that synagogues, temples and chapels are really, in the end, my only hope across Africa. As you look at this, if it isn't going to happen through the church, it's going to be so very difficult for government. (Cathleen Falsani, “Bono credits church for leading AIDS fight”. Chicago Sun-Times. 5/12/2003)

He hasn’t always been thrilled with their reaction. "If you remember the story of the Good Samaritan, well, when it comes to Africa, we're not just crossing the road to avoid the man who needs help, we're catching a bus in the other direction” (David Waters, Commercial Appeal. “Bono hopes you, too, will care”. 13/12/2003. http://www.u2world.com/news/article.php3?id_article=20255).

In 2002, his criticism of the Church was direct:

Christ's example is being demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy, which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here. If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't, it will be irrelevant.'' (Cathleen Falsani, “Bono credits church for leading AIDS fight”. Chicago Sun-Times. 5/12/2003)

What a difference a year makes! In 2003, Bono admitted, "I really am surprised and even a little disappointed that I can't continue to beat up the church, because they have really responded" (Cathleen Falsani, “Bono credits church for leading AIDS fight”. Chicago Sun-Times. 5/12/2003).

He continued, "The sleeping giant kind of woke up and is really playing a huge role in getting the job done. I'm amazed and moved by it, actually” (Cathleen Falsani, “Bono credits church for leading AIDS fight”. Chicago Sun-Times. 5/12/2003).

Bono emphasized that "I'm not here as a do-gooder. This is not a cause; it's an emergency” (http://wfn.org/2002/12/msg00088.html. December 19, 2003).

"Archbishop Tutu introduced me to a word: ubuntu. Essentially, what it means is 'I am because we are.' And it's about the interdependence, how we need each other and we have a stake in each other. One part of the community can't thrive truly while the other part of the community is in the dirt.

"In tending to them, we will be better off ourselves. It's that simple. Ubuntu” (Cathleen Falsani, “Bono credits church for leading AIDS fight”. Chicago Sun-Times. 5/12/2003).

Years ago, Bono dropped the imagined surname, Vox, leaving him to live up to the name, ‘Good’. On the social justice front, let's all try to live up to that name.
posted by Stephen Court

December 27, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
The end of the year is a time to work in a new date book. I noticed during the transfer that today is marked as Kwanzaa. This is a new addition for my date book (I checked last year's and it wasn't there).

Though tempted to give it props like FESTIVUS (December 23) from Seinfeld, I thought I'd better check into it.

First up, before I checked I must say it is a considerable scam to be able to add a holiday to my date book. Congratulations go to Maulana Karenga, who, in 1966, made up a holiday!

Today 13 million people celebrate it. That is a little more than the Mormon's celebrating Pioneer Day, but for some reason Karenga insinuated Kwanzaa into my book.

Aside from the scam part of it, I thought I'd check to see what it is all about (this is going somewhere!).

Here is the official story:
"Maulana Karenga decided that African-Americans needed a time of cultural reaffirmation and devised a seven-day celebration that expressed Pan-African solidarity. That celebration, now known as Kwanzaa, is a compilation of several harvest festivals held throughout the African continent and is a time of fasting, of feasting and of self-examination. Today, over 13 million people of all political affiliations and walks of life celebrate the holiday annually from December 26 to January 1. With its African roots and American influences, Kwanzaa is one of the most popular holidays in the country as well as one of the fastest growing in the world.

It sounds nice and neutral. But, there is more. On the greatest day of the celebration, the focus is the Imani, or, "the spirits of those who represented the virtues of Imani in our communities."

Then they celebrate the spirits of four people. You may not know them all so I've googled them for you:

1. Amenhotep IV of Egypt
Son of the Pharaoh when Moses led the people of God out of Egypt. So he was literally the enemy of the people of God. This guy broke with the traditional religion (fitting to note), worshipped the sun god, changed the capital city, and went to disgrace in the eyes of later kings.

2. Agotime of Brazil
This African queen cum Brazilian slave imported the religion of voodoo to the western hemisphere. "Voodoo practitioners believe in one god, but they communicate with the divine through thousands of spirits, or "Loa," which have power over nature and human existence. The souls of the deceased act as intermediaries between God and the living. The voodoo faithful serve these spirits, which have great powers. To disobey them puts one at risk. Believers have direct contact with the spirit world in a very real sense through the phenomenon of spiritual possession."

3. Bob Marley of Jamaica
Famous Rastafarian reggae star. "The prime basic belief of the Rastafarians is that Haile Selassie is the living God for the black race.  Selassie, whose previous name was Ras Tafari, was the black Emperor of Ethiopia... Selassie was not a Rastafarian himself.  He was a devout Christian...  When a group of Rastas went to Ethiopia to honour him, an official of the palace told them to go away!"

5. Ben Ali Mohamet of the United States
Google coughed up nothing about this person.

So, we've got a sun worshipper, a voodoo queen, someone who thought Haile Selassie was the living God (though Selassie didn't believe that and is now dead), and someone who doesn't show up on the radar screen.

Kwanzaa is not neutral like FESTIVUS. According to content on a main Kwanzaa site, it doesn't seem a noble pan-African solidarity gathering. Aside from the rich traditions it renews, doesn't it sound more like a multi-pronged attack by various false religions? Doesn't it read like dangerous stuff sliding in under the cloak of cultural unity?
posted by Stephen Court

December 26, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Today is the birthday of Mao Tse-tung ('Zedong' is the more recently politically correct rendtion). I'm personally ticked off about Mao. It's not just that he is the perpetrator of more evil than most people in history (one conservative estimate was 44 million dead due to him).

And yes, reckoned according to the Jonah scale, he is also 'responsible' (due to the repression, oppression, and millions of martyrs- who are the seed of the church) for more conversions than almost anyone else in history.

When I was in grade four I did a class project on Mao. I think he died that year. It is still down in a filing cabinet somewhere at my parents' home.

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it was a positive report. At ten, I bought unquestioningly into the media (if memory serves me correctly, I leaned on TIME Magazine) love-in of Mao. Can you imagine Manasseh getting the hagiographic treatment? Disgusting!

I've since grown a little more discerning ('a little'), and I don't usually buy everything I hear. I'm learning to trust some sources and question others.

God help us each to have listening hearts to understand motivations and intentions, to see what is sincere and what is impure, to know Your will and way, please.
posted by Stephen Court

December 25, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
When I was younger my folks used to make up family Christmas cards. There are one popular one with the whole alphabet (except the letter L). But my favourite was a red poster featuring, diagonally up from left to right, in written hand,

HOLY CHRISTMAS!

In an age when cows and defecation and all sorts of other items are rendered 'holy' by the blaspheming, unthinking masses, I thought and think it a wonderful application.

And so I wish each of you and your families a Holy Christmas!
posted by Stephen Court

December 24, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
So one of our cells was meeting today, discussing their favourite Christmases. My one year-old son, Zion, and I were fixing a little leftovers, and I piped in that his favourite Christmas was last year, in Newfoundland, where he and Danielle and I got snowed in for a few days before celebrating a second time in Toronto on the way home to Vancouver.

Later tonight I was telling Zion about the significance of tomorrow and I muddled my words, explaining that it was the 'burst' of Christ.

Though usually pretty quick to correct myself I left that one alone. I think it inspired. Tomorrow we celebrate the day Jesus burst onto the world scene. The ripples will continue into eternity. He's changed everything. Hallelujah!

Burst out of the traditionaly Hallmark Christmas tomorrow and let Him explode into your fellowship, your conversation, your meals, your games, your thoughts, and your actions.
posted by Stephen Court

December 23, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. Ezekiel 16:49

"Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them. Ecclesiastes 4:1

God sees all of the oppressed. From His throne in heaven, He looks down and sees the young girl being raped, the child forced to watch his family shot, the children ‘bought’ for the cost of a cup of coffee to be enslaved until they outlive their profitability. He looks around and can find no one to comfort them.

God wants us to experience some of the burden He feels, and to carry some of the pain. The difficulty is crossing over from our comfort to their discomfort. For every individual it is a personal challenge. It is a threshold question that is only one step away. Jesus Himself lived for a while within the confines and edicts of His religion. But when the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him He determined that He must be about His Father’s business. And that took Him to the prisons, the hospitals, and the slums (Luke 4:18).

Remember the lawyer who asked Jesus how to receive eternal life. Jesus asked him what he thought. The answer he gave was, one- Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind, two, love your neighbor as yourself. Ah, but who is my neighbor? Jesus told the famous story of the beaten traveler. Mobsters beat the daylights out of him. A pastor avoided him in the ditch. A worship leader avoided him. But a Samaritan man went to him and helped. He dealt with the bloody mess and the cultural contradictions. He dealt with the inconvenience and cost. And he helped this beaten man.

Jesus asked the man who was a neighbor to the beaten man (Luke 10:36). The lawyer acknowledged that it was the Samaritan. Now watch this. Jesus instructed, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

How do I receive eternal life? “Go and do the same.” It is not merely an addition to the Gospel. It is part of the Gospel.

Most people get caught up in sentimentalism, in the emotion pervading the frightening status of social injustice around the world. They are so overwhelmed; all they can do is hide their head in their hands.

Some people in the world are beginning to feel the burden. The list includes more than just the Bill Gates and Ted Turners who can throw hundreds of millions at a problem (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has already given or committed $4.9 billion, with a war chest of $24 billion, according to TIME Magazine, November 5, 2001). It includes people like Craig Kielburger.

Shocked to read that a boy his age had been murdered in Pakistan for protesting the child labor laws, this suburban 12 year old decided to do something about it. He says, “We can’t become a generation of passive bystanders; we have to be a generation that acts.” Kids Can Free The Children (FTC) is what he decided to do. Six years later, FTC boasts more than 100,000 members in 35 countries and has expanded its attention to other seven deadly sin-type issues. Among other things FTC has built 200 schools in 21 countries and raised the money to build 100 more. It has distributed 50,000 ‘basic needs’ kits and invested $2 million in medical supplies for kids around the world (TIME Magazine. October 22, 2001). The lesson? You don’t have to be one of the world’s richest men to make a difference. You don’t even have to be out of elementary school. And, apparently, you don’t even have to be a Christian!

If unbelievers can make that threshold step, then how much more should we, as people who recognize and embrace Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, and own some responsibility for the sufferings caused by some of the world's sins, step out from our comfort and into their discomfort?

Saint Francis left an affluent lifestyle to walk among the marginalized. It all began with a God encounter. This wealthy Italian, the son of a ‘magnifico’, grew up with the typical rich boy stereotypes, both concerning himself and those on the other side of the tracks. His pet prejudice was against lepers. They were gross. And he hated them.

While riding his horse, God threw Francis into the face with a leper. He had his God-encounter and was never the same again.

For Paul it took a blinding light to throw him to the soiled ground for him to experience a God-encounter that transformed his life.

Have you cross the threshold from your comfort to their discomfort? Have you changed allegiances from the worship leader to the beaten gutter-dweller? Have you had your God-encounter?
posted by Stephen Court

December 22, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I challenged some friends tonight to nail the top cause of death in the 20th century. My ace up the sleeve is that it wasn't war, which I figured would be the number one choice.

However, I've got brilliant friends. None chose war.

Instead, we got abortion. This almost certainly is responsible for more deaths than war or the answer I'd found online.

We got 'natural causes'. :- ) Of course, that one would win, too.

And finally, we got satan.

The answer I had found online was totalitarian regimes. It seems that dictators killed a lot of their own people during the 20th century. But I guess satan gets blame for all of those deaths, all of the abortion deaths, and many of the natural cause and war deaths.
posted by Stephen Court

Deecmber 21, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Following up with the Jenkins book, THE NEXT CHRISTENDOM. Check this:

"By 2050, only about one-fifth of the world's 3 billion Christians will be non-Hispanic whites. Soon the phrase "a White Christian" may sound like a curious oxymoron, as mildly surprising as "a Swedish Buddhist." Such people can exist, but a slight eccentricity is implied.

Ouch! According to projections, I'm squished into the margins, footnotes, and eccentricities of Christianity (some say I'm already there).

It certainly offers some perspective, in that what we're up to in the West isn't comparatively of much import in the World War. It's almost as if we're dabbling with toy weapons in a blow-up kids backyard wading pool while our comrades to the South (Africa, South America, Asia) are using real weapons on the high seas.
posted by Stephen Court

December 20, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I've been dipping into Philip Jenkins's THE NEXT CHRISTENDOM- The Coming Of Global Christianity. I have a couple of friends from Lagos, and so I perked up when I read content touching on that Nigerian city.

It turns out that in 1950 Lagos was a 'ramshackle port community' with a population of 1/4 million. By 1990 there were about 10 million people in metropolitan Lagos. In a dozen years there could be 25 million (Jenkins projects Lagos as the world's third largest city in 2015).

There are 20,000 people/square kilometre and the city, "suffers desperately from congestion and pollution."

The city and its country are divided by Islam and Christianity (the Islamic portions of the country have successfully instituted Shari'ah law in their states. For a recent well-noted example of some of the strife this has caused, visit http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1420315,00.html).

And yet the city has hosted some of the largest evangelistic campaigns in history (1998- 1-2 million at Redeemed Christian Church of God campaign; 2000- 1.6 million at one meeting with Reinhard Bonnke- see, for example, paragraph 9 of http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/002/5.40.html; and, to tie us back to a blog a few days ago, he was tangentially related to a well-noted account of a dead-person coming back to life recently- see http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/bonnke_raisedpastor.asp among other sites).

So, this city has exploded in half a century. It is a significant regional centre. It is the base of religious conflict. And it infrastructure is terrible.

What a classic example of a place to invest our prayers, and pounds, and people! We need to cultivate a hardy strain of Christianity, strong in doctrine, and mercy and social justice.

And for the keen ones out there- don't worry, there are many such cities...
posted by Stephen Court

December 19, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

During some research I came across a word from South Africa called 'ubuntu'. It basically means, 'I am because we are' (as concise as the Pope yesterday- It is as it was).

This is a great name for a cell or some version of authentic Christian community. Its very existence depends on the group. Everyone is important and enriches the whole. Our status as Christian only makes sense in the context of the greater Church of God (and this throws a monkey wrench into western individualism).

Lord, help us to see that from a positive standpoint the Body of Christ is essential in making us who we are, and for those of us who are salvos, The Salvation Army is essential in making us who we are, please.
posted by Stephen Court

December 18, 2003.
Greeetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Billy Graham was "moved to tears" by the upcoming film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. Pope John Paul ll says, "It is as it was."

Saddam Hussein was captured. He carried a pistol and he is still alive- unlike the million(s) he sent to their deaths and the many suicide bombers he supported.

Lauryn Hill apparently spoke out against sin in the Church while singing in the Vatican on the weekend. I've not been able to locate the whole text of what she said and varying reports read positively and negatively. She sure has guts though. Oh, and I am all in favour of speaking out against sin in the Church. And I'm against sin in the Church. Actually, I'm plain out and out against sin.

THE RETURN OF THE KING is apparently the best of the trilogy. I've not seen it yet (nor REVOLUTIONS!). But it is another example of the meta-stores of humanity the open wide to the telling of the Gospel. Let's use the opportunities.

I've lifted liberally from Gordon Cotterills blog below:

The Times on 6 December reported:

"A CORONER has expressed amazement that a 60-strong church congregation left a naked man to die of cold outdoors while they feasted inside. The churchgoers refused to let the man in despite his pleas for help. Kenneth Clarke, 62, wandered around the Central Methodist Church in Dudley, West Midlands, for five hours before dying of hypothermia. The Rev Ivor Sperring told the inquest: "He was nothing more than a nuisance. We felt we weren't in a position to deal with it because of his behaviour, his nudity, and there was something sinister about the way he was breaking things."

"Before we get all judgmental about it all - look at the programmes we run; look at who we target; look at who we want in our church; look at who are held up as leading examples, the voices of church; look at our success driven mentality; look at our motivation of mission.

I can't say anything about this- madness.
posted by Stephen Court

December 17, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Samuel Johnson said, "Man needs more to be reminded than instructed." This is a little more grist for the mill on my 'no Bible study' obsession.
posted by Stephen Court

December 17, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I just read this in preparation for a class tomorrow:

"Max Jukes, [an] atheist, lived a godless life. He married an ungodly [woman], and from this union there were 310 who died as paupers, 150 were criminals, 7 were murderers, 100 were drunkards, and more than half of the women were prostitutes. His 540 descendants cost the State one and a quarter million dollars [before inflation].

"Then there is a record of a great man of God, Jonathan Edwards. He lived at the same time as Max Jukes, but he married a godly [woman]. An investigation was made of 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards, of which 13 became college presidents, 65 college professors, 3 United States Senators, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 authors of prominence, one Vice-President of the United States, 80 public officials in other capacities, 295 college graduates, among whom were governors of states and ministers to foreign countries. Jonathan Edwards' descendants did not cost the state a penny (quoted in America is Too Young to Die by Leonard Ravenhill, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany Fellowship, 1979, p. 112).

Come on! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! This is a classic example of the effects of a godly life. Let's all start our own godly, planet-transforming legacies.
posted by Stephen Court

December 14, 2003..
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Yes, I know there are a few biggies out there today, from Saddam to Lauryn Hill. I might get to them soon.

If you're thinking about Christmas presents, still, think about The Salvation Army Child Sponsorship,
http://www.redshield.ca/support/childsponsorship.asp

Watch this:

"A sponsor is a person who provides financial support to enable sponsored children to receive food, clothing, shelter, education, medical needs, spiritual and loving care.

Our files are filled to overflowing with requests from developing countries crying for sponsorship for the many children we are assisting through our Homes, Basic Schools and Day Care Centres. These represent 22 countries and 29 Salvation Army territories and commands.

How did The Salvation Army get involved with child sponsorship?

The child sponsorship program in Canada was originally established through the home league department with an official policy in 1969 of $5.00 per month, per child, anywhere in the Army world. From this small beginning, the program has grown, and we now have hundreds of sponsors who partner with us in this important and vital ministry.

Though considerably small in size and less structured than many other such programs, we operate on very simple lines and handle all sponsorships within Salvation Army operated homes, institutions and day-care centres around the world. Upon receiving your reply, we’ll send you a sponsorship package which includes a brief case history and photograph of a child in the country of your choice. We endeavor to maintain a periodic link through reports or brief letters handled by the officer-in-charge

What good does it do?

Is this Program worthwhile? We feel it is. Jesus died for all the children — the world's children need our prayers and concerns. They are innocent victims of war, power struggles and aggression. Many are stateless, rootless and unwanted. Others are victims of broken families, confused and missing the security and the shelter of a loving home and often with the stability that only faith can give. It is impossible to know the total impact upon the hearts and minds of thousands of young children from a multitude of backgrounds and cultures who come under the Army's care in countries around the world. It is certain, however, that everyone of them hear and see the Gospel preached during the time they are with us, and, every once in a while, a true success story comes to light.

What does it cost?

Basic sponsorship cost per child is a minimum of $300 annually, or you may pay in monthly instalments of $25.00. You also have the option to sponsor a project The money received at our territorial headquarters is forwarded in total to the designated territory or command. Christmas and/or birthday money should also be sent via territorial headquarters."

Give it some thought.
posted by Stephen Court

December 14, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
President Bush was recently in England and delivered what is reported to be an important, powerful speech. Major Charles King, editor of SALVATIONIST, notes that five paragraphs in, Bush made a glowing reference to Salvation Army Founder William Booth.

Here goes:
‘It’s rightly said that Americans are a religious people. That’s in part because the “Good News” was translated by Tyndale, preached by Wesley, lived out in the example of William Booth.’

In King's words, "Let’s not underestimate the significance of this. When arguably the most significant person in the world – the head of both state and government of the world’s most powerful nation – chooses William Booth as a prime example in history of someone who lived out the Christian gospel, that’s no mean tribute."

What a legacy! What a responsibility! Let's live up to it.
posted by Stephen Court

December 13, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I recently saw a sign outside a great church (really big, into social justice and mercy) with the name and the description- "A Pretty Good Church!"

Yah! If I was church shopping (not church hopping) I'd probably check that one out.
posted by Stephen Court

December 12, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Now, This is not a political blog. But we are urged to pray for our leaders. And so it behooves us to consider our leaders and potential leaders and their positions on issues we hold dear.

Listen to what the leading candidate for the US Democratic presidential nomination, Dr. Dean, has to say about religion:

"Because if you're a Christian, you're a Christian. I don't believe it ought to matter what kind of a denomination you are. As a matter of fact, if you're a religious person, you're a religious person. I don't think it ought to matter what religion you are." http://nationalreview.com/impromptus/impromptus200312110800.asp Jay Nordlinger

This is a man who quit his denomination because it wouldn't permit a bike path through its property. For him, evidently, it doesn't matter what religion he is. Now, obviously, this is ridiculous. I refer you to Geoff Ryn's classic TO BE OR NOT TO BE on the importance of denomination. And, I refer you to Paul on the importance of religion.

It would be nice if his religion mattered to him. God bless him.
posted by Stephen Court

December 11, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus name, friends.

I came across a couple of Catherine Booth quotes.

“Keep the foot of faith on [Satan’s] neck.”

I love this. I’ve always said that The Salvation Army is the fist of the body of Christ. I guess we are also the foot of faith!

It is where our feet belong. Whether we’re following the footsteps of Joshua’s generals against the five kings, fulfilling Paul’s prophecy from Romans 16:20, or positioning ourselves with Christ in the end of Ephesians 1, our feet musst be in perpetual stomp mode on the neck of satan. Hallelujah!

Second,

"Labour to improve your mind as much as possible, because it is the vehicle through which the truth flows out to others.”

Your mind is the vehicle through which truth flows. Yah. I need to sharpen my mind up. I doubt that she means formal education here. Many in my territory are infatuated with formal education and (especially?) the credentials which it issues forth. We sometimes think more highly of an MDiv(‘Master of Divinity’) than an EE (excellent evangelist). We sometimes hire a MSW (‘master of social work’) before we even consider an AS (anointed soldier).

I can’t see General Booth putting up with that much at all. I figure that she is thinking of healthy reading, aggressive reading, intentional Bible reading (and study), listening to good teachers and preachers (cheaper online and on tape than in school), debating great issues, discussing the Word, the character of God, and the mission, engaging independents (people who don’t depend on Jesus yet), wrestling with the great challenges of our and any day, and so on (look, go to school if God wants you to, but, one- don’t think it necessarily prepares you better than someone else for God’s work (with some professional exceptions like medical doctor or rocket scientist), and, two- try to step back from the cultural obsession with post-secondary education and get out of the rat race. If anything, extra education has been a negative for the Warfare- it has ripped malleable Salvationists from their home corps and habits and spiritual covering and they’ve left Christian community for good or for years; it has infected solid Christians with daft theology, deadening the zeal for world-saving mission; it has replaced primitive Salvationist mission with world-pleasing goals of nice jobs and good pay and a loving spouse, a child or two, and white picket fence; and it has knocked superstars right out of the race- Charles Templeton being the most tragic example that comes immediately to mind).

I also believe that this quote, like the former, is sopping with Scripture. So she believes that we can have the mind of Christ, probably corporately (together we can have the mind of Christ, not individually) and possibly individually, that our minds can be transformed and renewed, and that we can be single-minded.

Amen. Let it be. I’ll drink to that (non-alcoholic).

Let the truth flow through our minds to others. Let it flow swiftly. Let it flow clearly. Let it not get lost on the way. Let there be nothing hindering the travel. Flow truth, flow.
Let us be a people of fast-flowing minds and heavy feet.
Posted by Stephen Court

December 10, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I know that as much as it is possible with us we are to live at peace with all people. I think this largely refers to our interaction with independents- those who don't submit to Jesus yet.

And I know that independents will know that we are Christians by our love- we love each other.

How this plays out day-to-day is sometimes uncertain.

I know that the weaker brother is to be deferred to, but in times of war I suspect that the battle must be pressed.

In high school we had a good football team. My buddy was the quarterback. In the first practice of the season he threw a short pass to a new student who had transferred in to play on our team. It hit him in the face mask. Returning to the huddle my buddy confided, 'that's the last pass he's going to see'.

In the heat of battle (especially three down football, which places a premium on passing yards) my buddy felt he couldn't trust this guy, so he offended him by excluding him from the offence.

I've overheard that some people in the ranks write us off because we pray for dead people to come back to life. And others judiciously advise that we either refrain from the practice or at least not advertise it. I sometimes wonder why this happens. Is it fear of failure? Is it fear of man? Is it lack of faith? Is it lack of commitment?

You see, I am thinking that this is a wartime issue. After all, it is part of the disciple’s commission in Matthew 10:7,8: “Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

So, we’re to be out doing all of this stuff. It is part of the war. It isn’t something to be hidden, ignored, or repudiated. It is something to be practised, defended, applauded, and celebrated.

It’s not like dead people aren’t coming back to life in our warfare. I know of a young guy in Nigeria who came back to life in the local Salvation Army hall during a prayer meeting for that purpose. Should he be embarrassed? Should his corps officer hide this truth?

Of course not! We should celebrate this victory over death! We should shout it from the rooftops so that all of the demons in the vicinity will cringe and cower. We should use the increased faith from this battle to generate more resolve and passion in this area of warfare and pray for more dead people to come to life.

Jesus is Lord. He has the power over the enemy, over sin, and over death.
Now, I love the comrades. I do. I pray for them/you. But I am not going to hide this aspect of the war, this facet of the commission. Have I offended you?
Posted by Stephen Court

December 9, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Please excuse the typos yesterday. There’s always an excuse…

So I Was wrapping things up tonight and I flipped onto a movie called PROMOTED TO GLORY. It obviously caught my attention, as it revolved around The Salvation Army.

The short of it is, as far as I can tell jumping in midway through as I did, the Army signs up this recovering drunk as a soldier. This guy is motivated solely by his sexual designs on the captain. It appears that they committed adultery and later on he died. The end.

The end. It certainly was an end for the virgin captain (it turns out he was married and she wasn’t). She was scarred. It was an end of innocence for her. It was an end (for a time?) of intimacy with Jesus (it seems He won’t tolerate competing suitors, and she clearly snubbed Him in her appeal to fornicate). It was an end of credibility.

Now, there were some problems with the story- naïve Steve can’t buy that her superior officer would handle it as he did, and so on.

But there it is. I draw two quick points from it:

1. the obvious warning to soldiers- don’t have sex with someone other than your spouse. Don’t do it. Don’t get sucked in by the emotions, by the pressure, by the loneliness, by the moment, by the dependence, nor by anything else. It is not worth it in the end. This is a clear and present danger for Christians out there, weak (as most are) in our Christian convictions, and bombarded by an opposing worldview. It is the enemy's most delighted-in means of derailing the Army of God. What a classic way to take down someone in the holiness movement- have them fornicate and mess up not only themselves, but another person, two families, and countless others for whom they are tarnished, contaminated testimonies. Do not do it.

2. We need to be careful when making soldiers. There is no rush. In my command there are rules that beef up the current practice. Be 18 (why pressure a 14 year-old into a life-long covenant?). Be saved for a year (get through four seasons and see how it goes). Be clean for a year (let’s see the fruit of a habit through summer, winter, spring, and autumn). Be in a formal discipling relationship (if you are not a disciple you are not a soldier, regardless of what is on your shoulders- red trims too). Be in a cell (authentic Christian community is what we’re all about, so you’ve got to be in). Be in a brigade activity (be fighting on a front). Complete a recognized discipleship course. Complete SALVATIONISM 101 (our recruits training course). Read the whole Bible (you’ve got to know what you are fighting for). Read it daily (or starve, and we can’t have our soldiers starving). Read the whole O+R (You’ve got to know what you are covenanting). Read the whole Handbook of Doctrine (you’ve got to know what you profess to believe). Memorize the doctrines (again, know what you believe). Tithe (one of the easiest measures of spiritual health). Wear a uniform (obviously this kicks in once you sign up and are approved by the census board and corps council).

If we follow these guidelines we’ll protect ourselves from wolves in sheep’s clothing. And if the seduced captain was following these guidelines herself (e.g. in a cell, in an accountable discipling relationship, etc.), it is likely she wouldn’t be sidelined by her sin.

Fair enough? It’s a war. We’re warring. Let’s protect each other.
Posted by Stephen Court

December 8, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Can someone remind me why it is that Canada is introducing a same-sex marriage law? Certainly it can't be because our Primie Minister wants to add this punctuation mark to his legacy. It can't be because the incoming Prime Minister wants to marks the beginning of hsi reign with thta piece of legislation. It's not because most people in Canada support it (the most recent poll shows 31% supporting the re-definition of marriage to include same-sex couples).

What can it be?

Can it be that elected MPs are abdicating their responsibilities? Can it be that unelected judges are usurpng them? Can it be that a small interest group is imposing its will on the rest of the populace?

It is all of the latter things. Tragically. Today I read of a Territorial Commander in another country calling his soldiers to become magistrates and government leaders. I guess we need to step up to the plate. And we need to vote with our convictions. I have read that in one Canadian city the Salvationist revival was so pervasive that the whoel city council was saved. You saw the laws changing in that municipality!

We need to stand up for a righteous standard in our lives and for our country. The legislature isn't doing it for us. The judicial system isn't doing it for us. Special interest groups aren't doing it for us.

I'm not advocating a theocracy in Canada. But how about something a little more mdoest- a free and true environment in which we can live godly lives that can multiply freedom and truth?
posted by Stephen Court

December 7, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

So I just checked the free encyclopedia, Wikopedia, again. It turns out that none of you successfully modified the two items I mentioned yesterday. Hmm.

Anyway, I want to encourage you in your warfare for Jesus Christ.

Most of you have less than 80 years of fighting left. After that we're into unadulaterated eternity (I use the adjective to show you that I recognize that in some ways we who are saved are already in eternity).

The perspective is helpful in two main ways:
1. it puts problems, distractions, frustrations, hurts, confusions and so on into perspective. In 80 years or so, you and I will be in heaven; and,
2. we've got limited time to fight. So, the big raise, the new job, the big game, the big new SUV, the next big thing- well, even the next episode, the next meal, the next article, or even the next blog (!) can take a comfortable backseat to the war. Enjoy the fght.
posted by Stephen Court

December 6, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I found this interesting online encyclopedia, called Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/).

As I am wont to do, I checked out a couple of things of interest to me- Salvation Army (you have to drop the 'The' for this site) and William Booth.

One of the intriguing aspects of Wikipedia is that anyone can update it. This is both its strength and its potential weakness. About a month ago I updated those two items. And they stayed updated (at least up to a couple of minutes ago)!

Check them out and see if you can find the bits I've added. I'll give you a hint- they are parts that you probably won't find in other encyclopedias.
posted by Stephen Court

December 5, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
So a mother in New York is suing the school to get the manger onto the scene this month. I guess they have a menorah (Judaism) and the star and crescent (Islam) up there (how they fit into this season is a stretch at very best, religiously- yes, Han(n)ukah included). And Christianity is represented by a Christmas tree and snowman (I'm not making this up- it is from FoxNews.com).

The lady figures that a manger with Jesus in it might be more appropriate. I'm in. A lawsuit! Those Americans will do anything to get Jesus back into their schools!
posted by Stephen Court

December 4, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Patrick Johnstone, one of the great mission strategists and researchers, figures that in the first 45-50 years after Jesus resurrected, maybe 30% of the world's population had heard the Gospel. Full marks to the apostles and their disciples.

By the end of the fifth century, they were at 40%. The peak of Christian growth was 650 AD (before this past century- although it all depends on how you chop it down) when about a quarter of the world's population professed a Christian faith (all of this is from THE CHURCH IS BIGGER THAN YOU THINK).

The cause of following decline is the rise of Islam.

The challenge of the 7th century is the challenge of the 21st. But the stakes are higher. This time we've got to make sure the Christians are sold out to the Kingdom of God spiritual war against the enemy in the heavenly realms, zealous to love Jesus with all of our hearts, souls, and strength. Where do you think we went wrong the last time? Compromise? Apathy? Weakness? Lack of intimacy? Lack of faith? Lack of love? Lack of vision?
posted by Stephen Court

December 3, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I've been accused, frequently, of over-rating Generals William and Catherine Booth. But whenever I come back to the primary documents I conclude that the opposite is true. I under-rate them.

They are enormous.

Today we discussed a chapter from Catherine's Popular Christianity, a book that singes your fingers, it is so fiery. She covers everything, it seems. One bit on money:

"War is impossible without money. I wish it were not so, but I cannot help it. This war is as impopssible as any other, without money. Men and women must eat to live, however little they may manage with. And traveling expenses, rent of buildings, working expenses, prosecutions, breakdown through sickness, etec. must be met. This war, I say, must have money, AND THE MORE WAR THE MORE MONEY IS WANTED. How many of these mongrel Christians, when faced with the needs of the war-chest, exclaim, "Money again! always begging!"

And so on. I will try to get it on the next JAC issue. It is all quotable. "Mongrel Christians!" Catherine may be the most politically-incorrect hero in history.

Of course she is right. 'Money' is a dirty word in too many congregations. It's not our money. It is God's. And the investment now will save people now who will earn money and give more money into the Kingdom. And the circle will continue and the funds will spiral until we can finance the global revolution. But we have to get off of our wallets now. I've spoken in an earlier blog about moving our investments from a trust in the mission of Coca Cola over to trust in the mission of The Salvation Army.

If we really believed in our mission we'd invest in it. If we really trusted God we'd invest in His Kingdom.
posted by Stephen Court

December 2, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

The Designer Baby Era is officially here.

This new era was birthed in England, as so many others in human history. A six-month old fetus was murdered by her parents because she had severe physical handicap- a cleft palate. I kid you not. You can't make this stuff.

"Late-term abortion is allowed in the United Kingdom for fetuses that are found to be severely mentally or physically handicapped."

A clergywoman has taken this issue to the highest court in England. The cool thing is that the police who failed to bring the abortionist to court will also be tried.

So, now it is all out in the open. People don't respect the sanctity of life. They don't recognise that God created each of us, whether we're tall or short, ugly or pretty. None of us should be chopped up before we're born.
posted by Stephen Court

December 1, 2003.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

You are one of the privleged. This is the blog that many people cannot read. But you can.

You see, I've just learned that one THQ has blocked this blog! "Tell it not in Gath!" you say? "Proclaim in to in the streets of Ashkelon!" is your response? Well, it is actually not the first time for our internet endeavours, though I think it might be the first for our blog.

I am told that any press is good press, and that to make something illicit is to make it more attractive. So praise God for the good press and the increased attractiveness of the medium.

Now, it is fine to make light of such things. But two responses are in order:
1. We need to remember that this very thing is happening seriously to comrades around the world who are being persecuted because they love Jesus and won't compromise; and,
2. Whatever the reason I've been blocked, I like the idea that the ideas expressed here are not the "politically-correct approved", as-spicy-as-vanilla, as-dangerous-as-a-pussycat committee-speak that generally passes the censors. May it always be that way. I trust and hope that needs of the day on the fronts of the world will be sparked by something incendiary from this site, something that will further revolution. God grant it.
posted by Stephen Court

Greetings in Jesus' name, to Issue 28 of the Journal of Aggressive Christianity.
The new issue of Journal of Aggressive Christianity is out December 1 (good 'til January 31).

We're psyched to begin a three-part seres by Major Chick Yuill, based on his important new book, LEADERSHIP ON THE AXIS OF CHANGE. Read it, certainly, but then go out and buy the whole book, read it, and then lend it to someone.

We've excavated The Salvation Army's international Summit on Poverty from a couple of years ago for two gems, Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Rader's Salvation Army Missionary Strategy and Ministry to the Poor, and the Keynote address, Poverty and The Salvation Army - The Call to the Excluded , by General John Gowans.

Commissioner Wesley Harris contributes his regular column, Battle Lines. Major Harold Hill and New Zealand's minute on Supervision is here. We've got the second most popular book of all time, Thomas a Kempis- THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. I've included a short piece I wrote about Losing Your Song. And there is a brief note on the initiation of Booth-Tucker Institute, an exciting new development for short-term incarnational refreshing for leaders around the world. Captain Stephen Poxon weights in with his considerable literary w/spiritual weight, as usual.

Not only would we love for you to read the 28th issue of JAC, but we'd also love for you to email six people to recommend your favourite article from it. Don't hog all of the good teaching. Spread it around. What influences you for good can influence your friends and leaders as well. Multiply the impact and the Army-transforming influence of the writers by passing it on. For those of you needing a quicker fix than every two months, keep checking here for your daily fix (along with weekly 'Sixty Seconds of Spiritual Pump'). Enjoy.
posted by Stephen Court