Armybarmy Blog

November 29, 3004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I hope to avoid my December rants on the de-Christmasization of Christmas. If you want your fill of that kind of stuff, check out December 03 archives (top right on screen).

But I couldn't help myself when I read this in the news. There are new greeting cards out this season:

Merry Chrismukkah

Oh man...
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

more today...
We're kicking off a Scholarship recruiting campaign with a goal of $150,000 cdn for The War College students.

This money will be allocated for foreign students from poor backgrounds.

If you're in Canada, it is easily tax-deductible. If not (and you're interested) contact me directly.

We can designate a scholarship in memory of saints of old or relatives or corps or... that are $500 or more. A Full Scholarship is $5,000.

So we're looking for 30 new full scholarships. The money will be invested directly into people who will be equipped to help with their regions for Jesus. It could be the best investment you could make.

Contact me at sixonefour@lightspeed.ca for more information or to make your donation.

Thanks for considering this offer.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

The Body of Christ is awesome.

I was just at a 24-7 prayer gathering this weekend with a number of Christians from around the Lower Mainland and the Island. (Check out the website at www.24-7prayer.com)

One of the women there had been representing Canada at the international 24-7 prayer gathering this October in Barcelona. While she was presenting her information on Canada, she happened to mention our War Room, which has been housing non-stop prayer in a slum hotel room since February.

The other leaders at the gathering asked her to repeat herself. They could not believe that one small group had been praying non-stop for so long. (I believe that during the summer there were only 15 or so regulars who were taking a minimum of 15 hours a week in the room). So they stopped what they were doing at the conference and spent a while just praying for us and blessing us.

A large group of significant leaders praying for us and blessing us up without us knowing about it. I'm sure this kind of thing happens all the time within the Body of Christ, but it's nice when you get to hear about it this side of heaven.

Grace,

Aaron

November 28, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I've been stuck on a phrase for the last few days- 'Tell For Thee'. It started at knee drill on Thursday when we were praying for the persecuted Church. How insignificant many of our issues are, especially in light of their struggles. And, how puny our work when compared to their victories.

I want my life to tell for Thee. 'Tell' is 'to have an effect or impact'. What a waste to live any other kind of life.

Here is the source of the phrase, by Colonel Coles:

SASB 88: How can I better serve thee, Lord

1.
How can I better serve thee, Lord,
Thou who hast done so much for me?
Faltering and weak my labor has been;
O that my life may tell for thee!
Chorus
Here at the cross in this sacred hour,
Here at the source of reviving power,
Helpless indeed, I come with my need;
Lord, for thy service, fit me I plead.

2.
Dull are my ears to hear thy voice,
Slow are my hands to work for thee,
Loath are my feet to conquer the steeps
That lead me to my Calvary.

3.
Strength for my weakness, Lord, impart;
Sight for my blindness give to me;
Faith for my doubtings, Lord, I would crave,
That I may serve thee worthily.

Bramwell Coles (1887-1960)
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

God is big enough!

In reading through the book of Ezra, I began to wonder how it is that Cyrus (King of Persia) ends up coughing up the supplies needed for the Temple of worship in Jerusalem. The Matthew Henry Online Commentary says this:

"the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus"

and:

"the hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord."

This is powerful stuff! Do you get the fullness of that?
God can make any project happen.
He gives those who need to be involved the desire to participate. God moved King Cyrus to give a whole lot of stuff, which to him, barely made a dent in the palace treasury(1:9-10) but was exactly what the builders needed.

What stands out to me, is that nowhere in that Scripture does it say that Ezra had to go grovelling to Cyprus for his riches. There was no charming, bootlicking, sweet-talking or lunch at fancy restaurants to arouse him into making a donation to their religious cause.
God took care of business.

So, that being said, seeing as God is the same yesterday, today and always, I'd like to propone that as long as we are being 'about our Master's business' that He will provide for us in the same way that He provided for them.

However, as a Salvation Army, we'll never see it until we back off and let Him step in and move the hearts of the kings...

Death and Glory,
Heather

more today...
Someone at The War College mentioned something about learning Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. I'm not interested. Strong already learned them for me. I suggested that if he had the chops to learn three languages, he might do better to make them Arabic, Mandarin, and Hindi... you know, for the war, and all...
much grace
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November 26, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I ran into my first kettle today, so I thought I'd dig out a blog from this time last year for you all (assuming that there may be a few people who, a. haven't been faithful readers for all 22 months we've been going, and b. may be disinclined to dig through all of the archives, even though they are welcome to try).


For many Salvationists this is the busiest time of the year. We are more
visible in many places than at any other time. We enjoy great favor that
accompanies the great responsibilities we've accepted.

Let's determine to do a few things over this season:

1. Let's determine to live up to what we have already attained. Let's not
let disciplines or standards slack during this period. If schedules must be
pared down, let's pare down coffee break, magazine reading, the football
game, and our favourite show before we slip up on our rations,
discipleship, or evangelism.

2. Let's make the most of every opportunity. We're in the papers and radio
and newspapers more than the rest of the year combined (I'm guessing). We
as an army are seen by millions and we get to speak with many who we'd
otherwise never meet. Let us preach the word in season and out of season.
As, in most cases, we are already meeting the expressed needs of people
during this month, let us not neglect to offer the fulfillment of the
eternal needs.

3. Let's celebrate one of the most magnificent events in history (right up
there with the crucifixion and resurrection). Let's embrace the wonder of 8
pounds, two ounces, of the Creator of the Universe shrinking down from all
of His fiery, thunderous, explosive Presence to a little baby wrapped up in some
cloths. Let's delight in the manifest love of such an intrusion into our
lives. Let's be contagious in our joy. Let's not let up.

May this new year, 2005, be one of unprecedented holiness, passion, and
power throughout The Salvation Army world.
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

more today...
I just read in freerepublic.com that in some American schools, while celebrating American Thanksgiving, students can thank anyone except God. If it wasn't so tragic it would be hilarious (if you don't know the history, the Pilgrims were Puritans and so it is hard to avoid God in the discussion). And, the article continues, a teacher was stopped last week from teaching teh Declaration of Independence because it had religious references.
God bless America.
grace
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more today...
It is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (well, Sunday was, but we don't meet together on Sundays, so...). Anyway, here are some facts from BE A HERO:
Christian martyrdoms at the hands of...
Atheists: 31,689,000
Muslims 9,121,000
Ethnoreligionists: 7,469,000
Christians: 5,538,000
Quasi-religionists 2,712,000
Mahayana Buddhists: 1,651,000
Hindus: 676,000
Zoroastrians: 384,000.

The 20th Century Atlas breaks it down even more for us:

1921-50: 15 million Christians in prison camps
1950-80: 5 million Christians in prison camps
Orthodox: 14.5 million killed by Stalin; 2.7 million of them martyrs (1929-37)
Roman Catholics (1925): 1.2 million martyrs
Christians executed by Nazis in death camps: 1 million
Nazis exterminate 0.5 million Gypsies
Khmer Rouge slaughter 2 million (1975)
Massacre of 40,000 Vietnamese Catholics (1970)
And so on.

Stalin takes the blame for upwards of 51 million, Mao Zedong for more than 44 million, and Hitler for 25 million plus another 35 million soldiers and civilians.

Meanwhile, religious-tainted conflicts (mixed with tribal elements in some cases) in various countries killed millions more:
In Kinshasa, Congo, since 1998, 3.3 million;
In Nigeria (1967-1970), 3 million;
In Sudan, 2 million;
In Vietnam, 2 million
In Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge (1975-1978), 1.6 million;
In Rwanda and Burundi (1959-1995), at least 700,000;
In India and Pakistan (1947), 500,000;
In Uganda, under Idi Amin, 300,000;
In the Philippines, 120,000;
In Eritrea-Ethiopia (1998-2000), at least 70,000;
In Indonesia since 1999, maybe 9,000;
In Northern Ireland through The Troubles, 3,506;
And so on.
(sources: Barrett et al. WORLD CHRISTIAN TRENDS, cited in 20th CENTURY ATLAS. January 13, 2004. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat0.htm#Martyrs.
20th CENTURY ATLAS. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat0.htm#Martyrs. January 15, 2004.
http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm#Hitler; http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm#Mao; http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm#Stalin. January 12, 2004.
20th CENTURY ATLAS. January 12, 2004. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstats).
Jesus is acquainted with their suffering. All I could pray for most of our knee drill otnight was a line from an old song- 'O for grace.' Much grace.

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more today...
I'm playing with a thing to identify elements of aggressive Christianity. This isn't a parlour game, but real life planning for world conquest. What is important to replicate in our mission discipling? This is a mid-stream stab.
These seem to be vital components:

- Primitive Salvationism- mission-focused, charismatic-flavoured heroism.
This phrase, ‘invented’ by Commissioner Wesley Harris, conveys a sense of the essential elements of the effective first generation Salvation Army. I think everyone here will agree on ‘mission-focused’ and ‘heroism’ (the latter definitely required for many of the cities and countries we are destined to invade). The other term requires quick unpacking. By ‘charismatic-flavoured’ we are recognizing the Spirit-generated freedom and power exuding from early Salvationists and from their contemporary heirs in various denominational attire around the world. The truth seems to be that most of the most successful mission-oriented churches in the world align themselves with early Salvationists in terms of charismatic flavour.

- Poor- We’re called to the poor. Don’t worry- this doesn’t limit us too much, since, according to globalrichlist.com, there are more than 5.1 billion people who live on less than Canadians on welfare (who are in the top 15% wealthiest people on the planet). We’re convinced that we need to share Jesus’ bias for the poor on whatever front we fight. This demands some incarnational simplicity in our efforts, identifying with the poor whom we serve. Both Commissioner Shaw Clifton and Lieutenant Rowan Castle include simplicity as one of the distinguishing characteristics of Salvationism. It may be as accurate in the developing world as it is inaccurate in the developed world.

Regardless, we must live simply in the neighbourhoods we invade. And we’ll do well to aim for the down and out.

Global and local interests demand our integrity with this issue. Some of the benefits of such a posture include: intimacy with a God who has a bias toward the poor; identification with the people; good stewardship of God-lent resources; integrity; cost-effectiveness; and, the ability to sleep at night.

- Community- One of the catch phrases on our front is ‘authentic Christian community’. We believe that when we pervasively tap into it this will be contagious. “See how they love one another” will be the startled observation.

We replace bald-spot Christianity (staring at the back of someone’s head for an hour every week) with face-toface Christianity, in which we actually get into each other’s lives, carrying one another’s burdens, sharpening one another, spurring one another on to love and good deeds, carrying, supporting, holding accountable. It is a much more rigorous Christianity than most of us ever experience.

Not only that, but God has designed us to desire community. We want to belong. Most in the West don’t ever sense the reality in its pure forms but we craft some human version (clubs, teams, etc.) or get caught up in a demonic counterfeit. The real thing is attractive at a soul-level for people with whom we live and interact.

- Tent-Making- We’re training our people locally to prepare to go and get jobs in other cities and to start cells. This offers contacts, sustainable income, and flexibility, while facilitating incarnation.

- Prophetic Relevance- We’re coining this term to depict comments advising both cultural relevance on each front and the protection of a prophetic stance. We do well not to abdicate one for the other. Paul was Jewish when it helped and he was Roman when it helped.

On fronts less free to the Gospel, relevance will be emphasized above prophetic stance. In free countries (most of the countries now occupied by The Salvation Army) relevance becomes a tactic we choose to use as deemed circumstantially efficacious.

- Subversive Strategy- Many of the 91 countries remaining to be invaded by The Salvation Army provide severe challenges. As things stand today, warriors will not be able to wave the Army tri-colour in some countries closed to the Gospel. We’ll have to train to use culturally accepted story and holy books and resources to spread the Kingdom of God.
Any thoughts (info@thewarcollege.com)?
Much grace,
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November 25, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Some people ask about where we live and fight. Our students live here http://collections.ic.gc.ca/neon/tour/empress.html and if you see iRobot (Will Smith movie) and remember the scene at the Ovaltine Cafe- well, that is next door to the Empress.

Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

more today...
William Booth�s message to officers serving in India: �Pay 10,000 more times attention to the children, but don�t neglect the adults�.
I lifted this from the brand new SALVATIONIST (which was citing Commissioner Clifton).
Much grace
stephenc

more today...
Kettle season is kicking off and there is already a nice story in National Review at http://nationalreview.com/smitht/smith200411240853.asp My only complaint is trying to imagine the cold in South Carolina! Much grace
stephenc

more today...
Here is a review of U2's new album from a secular news source. There is interesting argument for us to accept that U2 is a Christian band, as uncomfortable as that might be... http://nationalreview.com/comment/tanner200411230823.asp

much grace
stephenc

More today...
yesterday's blog on BTI exploded but here are the numbers; July 5-11, 2005 (BTI), followed by Patricia King's schools- July 13-16 (Wed - Saturday) - Extreme Prophetic School
July 18-20 (Mon-Wed) Glory School
much grace
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November 24, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Look, our TYS, Major David Ivany, just started blogging. He's at http://startherevolution.blogspot.com/ and it is called Championing Generation Next. Check it out.
Oh, and BTI- July 11-15.
I agree with Aaron (he's a smart guy). Let's go hardcore on sin and make sure people get saved and not deceived. Let's pump it for saints, and deal with strong holds, get them to repent and renounce. Then we can kick some demons so that the people can get sanctified.
And let's preach hell. I'm all for it (not hell, for preaching it).
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

What does Salvation mean?

We've been grinding that one through a bit in our cell group. It is not enough just to invite people into community and fellowship with us. That's all well and good, and it is an essential part of earning the right to speak salvation into people's lives. But community, in and of itself, is not salvation.

One of the problems is with the concept we have developed of salvation. "Invite Jesus into your heart to be your personal Lord and Saviour"...yes, but isn't salvation much, much bigger than that? Is salvation merely something we can fit into the rest of our lives? Is it not exactly the other way around? Are we not invited into Jesus' heart for the world? If the salvation Jesus offers is not about the salvation and redemption of all creation, the working out of the Kingdom of God over all the earth, then it can become something very self-serving and self-centered.

Understand, I am not espousing Universalism here by any stretch of the imagination. What I am saying is that our salvation is not about getting our own personal behinds into heaven. It is about becoming a follower of Jesus in his great Kingdom work, becoming an "agent of grace" in the Kingdom of the World. Salvation is not about ME. It is about Jesus, and what he is doing, and being enormously privileged to be a part of that.

So the question, then, is what does it mean to follow Jesus? We can talk all about justice and community and love, etc..., and those are all absolutely essential. But William Booth had an answer that took precedence:

Dealing with sin.

We don't like talking about sin, partly because of a reaction to the fire and brimstone type of preaching that the world long ago rejected. I am all about people genuinely belonging in our communities before they believe or behave in any particular way. Hey, I call people to become involved in Kingdom justice work long before they have any dim notion of what the Kingdom is. But at some point we need to show people the full freedom from sin offered by Jesus, if we want our people to truly die to themselves and be raised up in the life and Kingdom of God.

In Booth's seven steps to salvation, the first five or six (can't remember exactly which) deal with sin. Only once sin is effectively dealt with does Booth go onto Faith.

It makes sense. If we are talking about the King's active reign in our lives, how can we be holding anything back? That is called treason. Our lives are entirely the King's territory. That is what it means to follow Christ, doesn't it? A death to selfishness, and the preparation to do whatever we are called to do by the King.

Forget this individualised, selfish, me-centered salvation, wherein we simply try to manage our sins. We live in a world that has rejected even the concept of sin, calling it sickness, or defect, or some other such euphemism. Let's call it what it is: evil. The world does understand evil, but has developed no way to deal with it, partly because we are taught to externalise it and consider others to be evil, ourselves blameless.

Let's take sin head on, and offer people a way out. It is not judgmental, nor condemnatory. It is the very good news of the gospel. And it is the good news of salvation for the world, because freedom from sin gives us the vantage point from which to deal with evil in the world. We don't want our warriors to be held back by the sin that so easily entangles.

Hmmm, I'm being convicted by my own words here. I can think of some instances where I have allowed sin to entangle, to slow me down. I need to be daily aware of where I may be holding anything back from the one who has purchased me at a great price, and be prepared to turn that over utterly. This is what I think it means to work out your salvation with great fear and trembling.

Thank God for his gracious salvation, and his - and only his - ability to deal with sin.

Grace,

Aaron White

November 23, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Here is an early tip for armybarmy bloggers- you get sneak peak of a couple of new demos by Salvo worship leader Phil Laeger before they hit the demo of the week feature. Remember, these aren't finished products, just Phil on the piano, singing the words so that you know how these songs go.

They say that one of the effects of revival is a new song repertoire. Phil has written both of these songs out of revelation from God, both of which, I believe, have a lot to say to us in this generation. Give them a prayerful listen:
www.phillaeger.com/songs/covenant.mp3
www.phillaeger.com/songs/beahero.mp3
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

more today...
My pal Jonathan Evans started blogging the Suburban Outpost blog at . If you don't know him yet, he is one of the most sincere, joyful, relentless (on the hardwood), contagious guys you'll get to meet. Look forward to his blogs daily.
Much grace
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Posted by: armybarmy / 10:08 AM

November 22, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I was out of town this weekend and 'incomputercado' (coined it myself just now- if you like, you can quote me.).

Heather kept us all running, though.

Hey, there is another War College student blog from the Martyrs Session- Jonathan Berkshire is at it here- http://bonesonfire.blogspot.com/. Book it.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

Dying to Ourselves Daily

"People love to talk of revival but seem to fail to grasp that things that need reviving are by definition close to death."

Revival, revival...we're crying out for it in the church. In The Salvation Army, we'll sing through verse upon verse of "Send the Fire" and get all stirred up in our inner man, but when we walk out the door of the corps, the lyrics may play in our minds, but the plea leaks out of our hearts.
What's the truth? Jesus is coming back for a bride that is pure and spotless.
It would also be nice if she were breathing.
Healthy - does that describe the Church? Hardly.

What are we to do?
First, recognize the truth - what is the truth? Try WHO is the Truth. That's Jesus. We are meant to be transforming more and more into His likeness with every passing moment, but how many of us are really being transformed?
Is it for lack of asking? No. It is for a lack of receiving. Holy Spirit wants to do an incredible, transformational, resurrection power type of work in us, as individuals and as the body of Christ, but we need to recognize first that we are in need, to cry out with Paul:

"What a wretched man I am! Who will save me from this body of death?" Romans 7:25

"Look down and see this waiting host
And send the promised Holy Ghost
We need another Pentecost,
Send the fire today"

Death and Glory,
Heather

The World for God?

"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."

Wow, powerful words. That's our MISSION STATEMENT folks! As an Army, that's what we're driving at, fueled by and existing to achieve. The part that captures me is the line that I shifted into italics - I am forced to linger on these thoughts.

Are we truly a transforming influence?
What would constitute an influence that was transformational?

What is transformational?

-A marked change, as in appearance or character, usually for the better
-To change the nature, function, or condition of;
-To change in nature, disposition, heart, character, or the like; to convert.
(from www.thesaurus.com)


Hmm...to be honest, if each corps/community church were truly a transformational influence then wouldn't the world be won by now? Or at least much closer? Wouldn't the Christian church be facing increased persecution? I'm speaking mainly to the North American church here, because we are they who are running so closely alongside the worldculture that no one notices our witness except to be mildly amused by our WWJD bracelets.

Do you disagree? Are you outraged? Am I being too hard on you?

Then email me and tell me what YOU are doing to be a transforming presence in your community. Maybe even just in your church or on your street, or in your own home. I'd like to know, I'd love the encouragement that the Army hasn't totally sold-out and earned it's title of 'social organization'.

Look, we've got to start somewhere, and time is growing short.
It starts with you. The deal is that once you begin by embarking on a personal reformation, and begin to adopt a cleaner, more consecrated way of life all for the sake of bringing glory to God, others will see and be attracted to Jesus as He shines through you.

It's the whole 'be the change you want to see' thing. C'mon, the Newsboys sang about it, so it must be meaningful. (!)

So let's get out of the pew, take off the headphones and interact with your community.
Do the things you are afraid to do.
Go ahead and step out, God's already gone before you, and He's got your back.

Death and Glory,
Heather

"I look death in the face practically every day I live. Do you think I'd do this if I wasn't convinced of your resurrection and mine as guaranteed by the resurrected Messiah Jesus? Do you think I was just trying to act heroic when I fought the wild beasts at Ephesus, hoping it wouldn't be the end of me? Not on your life! It's resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live." 1 Corinthians 15:31-32 MSG

So what's the use in going out and preaching the Gospel day after day and serving meal after meal and handing out coat after coat if this is it? If the only thing we have to look forward to is whatever small happiness we can elicit for ourselves here on this fallen earth?

It may be easy to fall into the attitude of the Epicureans - those who believed that we could gain knowledge of the world by solely relying upon our senses. They taught that the point of all one's actions in life was to attain pleasure (conceived of as tranquility) for oneself. Get whatever happiness you can while you're still kickin' and healthy enough to enjoy it. Get ahead in life. Get your little piece of heaven. As Christians, though, we believe that this world is not our home, so we shouldn't be making ourselves cozy in it. Instead, we ought to live an exemplary life among the non-believers so that our actions will refute their prejudices. (see 1 Peter 2:11-12 MSG)

No friends, instead, as you walk through the cold night looking for the woman who sells her body for drugs over and over, or endure yet another unclean spirit spewing impurity all over you when all you were doing was asking for prayer requests, remember the heavenly rewards that have been revealed to you.

So when it gets hard (maybe like it is now) use the promise of the eternal blessings as fuel for perseverance and "may the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Death and Glory,
Heather

On the sacraments...

I would hold that our position is not "non-sacramental". I would say that our theology and practice is thoroughly sacramental, in that we minister everyday amongst the people Mother Teresa called "the sacramental poor."

If a sacrament is an outward, physical symbol representing the Divine, then surely the poor, the broken, the oppressed, the orphans and widows, the addict, the prisoner, are all sacraments? "Whatever you do for the least of these my brothers, you do also for me." (Matthew 25:40b)

The Quakers take this a bit further than we do, practically, seeing the whole of creation as a sacrament. We probably would assent to that, but don't make it explicit often enough.

We are sacramentalists, we just don't practice the seven or five or two specific ritual sacraments that other denominations historically have.

Grace,

Aaron

more today...
My buddy preached 7 times in 48 hours this week and 172 people got saved. In North America.
HALLELUJAH!

much grace
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more today...

Someone asked about the Army's position on sacraments (in response to a blog earlier this week) and mine. I'd say that we are non-sacramental and I am non-superstitious.
Much grace
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November 18, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Here is a reblog- a little propaganda from back in the day...
WHY SIGN UP FOR THE WAR COLLEGE?

You may have heard of The Salvation Army's bold foray into radical
battle schooling. The War College has been created to train this
generation's warriors to win the world for Jesus. Why should you
invest a year of your life at The War College, in Vancouver, Canada?
Reasons abound:

1. Teaching . You will learn from some of the best leaders in The Salvation Army. People like General Eva Burrows, Colonel Earl Robinson (the International Secretary for Spiritual Life Development), and Major Jamie Braund (CO Cariboo HIll- Canada's largest corps) bring proven expertise to Salvation Army warfare. And extremists such as Michael Collins, Elaine Gillingham, Aaron White, and Danielle Strickland bring front line power from the new things God is doing in these days.

2. Content. You will be immersed in essential subjects for warfare success, such as extreme holiness, warfare operations, spiritual disciplines, extreme prophetic, spiritual accountability, social justice, and apostolic leadership. You will receive the course content required for success in the future wars to which God appoints you.

3. Training. You will be trained by successful SA leaders in evangelism, discipleship, intercession, the prophetic and other
spiritual gifts, servanthood, cell multiplication, preaching, warfare worship, and more. You will find yourself in the thick of the fight, right on front lines. You will also be deployed for a few months to another SA unit for further experience.

4. Community. You will live in close quarters with other slum brothers and slum sisters (the noble calling of many early
Salvationists), manifesting a righteous standard and authentic Christian community to a hungry neighbourhood. This experience will prove to be a sanctifying process.

5. Location. Vancouver was graded the second best city in the world this year, again. Based at the foot of the mountains and at the edge of the ocean, Vancouver's beauty is renowned. But that's not all. You will live in Canada's poorest postal code, at the country's most notorious intersection, right in the thick of the fight. This is our best answer to General Booth's dream of hanging cadets over hell for a fortnight.

6. Win The World. God is raising up The War College to train this generation's warriors to win the world for Jesus. The spiritual synergy of the experience will spin off dynamic ministries and warfare on fronts around the world that will transform cities and people groups and nations. Compare that to your alternative of post-bachelor degree entry-level office work, or your fourth year undergrad.

7. Calling. God's call on your life is the best reason. Maybe you hear Him specifically calling you to come. Maybe you're not sure but you figure that you'll need some of this stuff for the calling you know He has given you. Check out thewarcollege.com pages for more information and an online application.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

more today...
hi- this is an editted copy of an exchange between two (sort of) salvos:

"A": Hello, I grew up in the salvation army and recently started going back. I
have to say I have been dealing with many emotions on the topics of baptism
and holy communion. Now holy communion i believe you can take on ur own
etc. but baptism...*sigh* i keep hearing so many different points of view
and I have to say some make me worried about my grandparents and great
grandparents who are/were army members. I've become scared that they are
not going to heaven or something. I've heard so many people say that you
cannot be saved unless your baptized in water. The only things that really
confuses me is the great commission Jesus gives especially at the end of
Matthew and Mark. He says whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved...I'm confused:( ...and...oh my I'm so
confused.

"B": HI
There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism (Ephesians 4). That baptism is the Holy Spirit baptism (without it you are not saved, according to Romans 8:9 (if you don't have the Spirit you aren't a Christian).

John's confession in Mat 3:11 is that he baptizes with water BUT One coming after will baptize the Holy Spirit and fire, indicating both the obsolescence of water baptism and the indispensability of Spirit baptism. Jesus reiterates this BUT fact in Acts 1:5.

Water baptism isn't a Christian practice, being used way before Jesus for the public association of people with different groups (including John the Baptist's baptism, which, of course, wasn't Christian). It has slim to no use today though since you'd be ahead of the game if you could convince a few sinner friends watch you get dunked. Much more useful as a means of associating with Jesus is a good Christian t-shirt, which will do the trick with possibly hundreds of sinners every time you wear it.

So, first up, repent for insulting the warfare of your parents. 

Second, read the Bible, in which are all the answers.

Third, stop listening to losers who suggest your salvo grandparents are going to hell.

Fourth, if you want to be serious about Jesus, get plugged in somewhere. This dabbling in different congregations and denominations isn't Christian at all. You need to commit and covenant up somewhere. If you can't handle the Army's praxis, then go somewhere else that you can fight effectively and with accountability and a clear conscience.

I trust this is satisfactory.
Much Grace,
StephenC

more today...
How do you get started? I think lots of people want to go and embark on a great commission adventure but don't know how to start. Here are a few suggestions... Get a passport. Get trained up spiritually, strategically, and professionally (be able to get a job to pay for things). Pray (get a vision as to who, what, when, where, how). Network. Go.
Does that sound too simple?
Here are a couple of ideas:
Benin
Four young Salvationists, from Haiti, Canada, England, and Nigeria, team up and head to Benin. This group is equipped to handle the religious (voodoo), linguistic (the Canadian and Haitian speak French) and cultural realities (The Nigerian lives next door) of this poor country. They settle in Porto-Novo, the capital city, and quickly start praying. Two land part-time work in the pervasive informal economy and one catches on with the national bank (she’s a professional banker). This pays for all of their expenses. These rest of their ‘man’-hours are invested totally in the mission to create cells. This crew is resourced from Nigeria by a leader who has discipled the Nigerian member of the unit.

Nepal
Half a dozen Manchester Salvationists catch a vision for Nepal. Two are of Indian descent and one is from China. Along with an Indian Salvationist in New York (at a large Indian corps there) they move to Katmandu. In this caste society they’ve devised ways to reach different groups. They’ve trained up to handle the challenges of the world’s only official Hindu culture. Because it is the poorest country in the world and half of the population is unemployed, they’ve come prepared to train and employ Nepalese in new industries (similar to Booth-Tucker a century ago in India- could it be computer services out-sourced from NA?). Through their service and servanthood, they build relationships and begin cells.

There are 201 states (but we'll give the Vatican a break) so there are 200 countries to hit, 91 of which the Army has not yet invaded. Benin and Nepal are just two.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

more today...
Booth's 6 Resolutions (age 20):
1. That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress, and have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.
2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.
3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek and zealous follower of Christ, and by serious conversation and warning endeavor to lead them to think of their immortal souls.
4. That I will read to less than four chapters in God’s Word every day.
5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart and leave providential events with God.
6. That I will read over this every day or at least twice a week.
“God help me, enable me to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and to yield myself a prisoner of love to the redeemer of the world.”
“I feel my own weakness, and without God’s help I shall not keep these resolutions. The Lord have mercy upon my guilty soul.”
much grace,
sec

Ok...some more thoughts from Tuesday:

The Scriptural guard against the deceitful sower is this:

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

That means that every thought, every argument, every pretense that currently exists in my mind that opposes the truth of God MUST be demolished. Torn down completely. Done away with entirely. As well, to avoid new growth, every thought that enters my mind that does not align itself with what God says is true and right must be taken captive and made obedient to Christ.

I imagine this to look like an undercover enemy spy who has made his way into my headquarters with the mission of setting off a string of explosives, ensuring my total annihilation. If my sensors (Holy Spirit and Word of God) are finely tuned, the spy will be discovered and then taken as a prisoner of war and led to the ultimate authority, who is Christ and forced to submit to Him. Victory!

When satan plants the idea in my head that I am not making a difference here in the downtown eastside, and I may as well go back to who I was 3 years ago, instead of mulling it over and deciding for myself whether or not that is truth, I must seize this thought immediately, keep it under tight control and bring it right to Jesus, where He can speak the truth. When the Truth comes, the lie is exposed and loses its power.
What truth does Jesus speak to the lie that I am not making a difference as a Christian? He simply reminds me of what I was before I met Him. The futility of my life and the meaninglessness I felt. He draws to mind Psalm 84:10:

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

I don't ever ever ever want to return to the tents of the wicked - even if it means that I am merely a doorkeeper in the House of my God for the rest of my days, that in itself is the precious gift of eternal life. Life that produces eternal fruit and leads others to the Throne of Grace and renews gratitude towards my King for pulling me out of the slimy pit.

What has the enemy been planting in your backyard? What lies do you need to come out of agreement with? Have you become aware of the fruit that you've been displaying? Angry outbursts, jealousy, quarreling...and you are ready to turn from those wicked ways?
It's not enough to just pray longer, read more of the Bible or attend more conferences. The enemy is planting weeds amongst the Master's wheat (Matthew 13) and if it is allowed to prosper, it will insidiously entangle itself amongst the good seed until the two are inseparable and to root out the weeds will damage the wheat.
Therefore, ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you have allowed the enemy's seed to take root.
Then repent.
Ask God to forgive you for believing the father of lies over your Heavenly Father.
Ask Him to tell you what the truth is and then in Jesus' Name, kick the enemy out.
Know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Root out the weeds! For Christ's sake!

posted by:
Heather Wright
The War College
Death and Glory Session

November 17, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
242 (featured on the armybarmy.com front menu page) has been overhauled. You need to check it out again. WWW.SALVATIONARMY242.COM It has daily rations for you (so long dailybread), stores for SA clothing, articles and other resources, some great links, and so on.
Bookmark it.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

There are times when I become discouraged. Thoughts steal their way into my mind, like crafty sower searching for fertile soil wherein to sow his spurious seed.

Thoughts like:
-Am I really making a difference in my neighbourhood? It's so big and I'm so small.
-If God hears all of my prayers, why aren't more people getting saved faster?
-Is anyone's life really different because of Christ living in me, or am I just kidding myself?
-Wouldn't it be easier to just go back to where I came from and get a normal job like everyone else?

These thoughts are seeds sown by the evil one in cooperation with my sinful nature. What's the purpose of these lies? To take root in my life and bear fruit. Not the fruit of the Spirit though - nope, it's fruit that looks like this:

*sexual immorality
*impure thoughts
*eagerness for lustful pleasure
*idolatry
*participation in demonic activities
*hostility
*quarreling
*jealousy
*outbursts of anger
*selfish ambition
*divisions
*the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in my own little group
*envy
*drunkenness
*wild parties
(from Galatians 5:19-21)

Now I don't know about you, but these sinful ways are not as far away from my everyday behaviour as I would like the world to believe. The evidence of even one of those results listed above in my life indicates that somewhere along the line, I have allowed the evil one to sow a seed of deception within me and it has taken root. Then I have fed it by coming into agreement with whatever the lie is and perhaps even trying to convince others to buy into it too.
The result? Not only am I miserable with myself, but the Word says that anyone living this sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

That's serious stuff!

Many of us can sing the Sunday school song naming the fruits of the Spirit (also from Galatians 5), but no one ever mentions the fruit of the sinful nature, which really, is much more prevalent than we would like to admit. Go ahead, have a second look at the list above and ask Holy Spirit to search your heart to see if there be any wicked way in you.
I tell you friends, Jesus is coming back for a bride that is pure (2 Corinthians 11:2)not a bride that snaps irritably at others all the time for no reason, or a bride that lusts after others members of the body of Christ or kicks back on the weekends with a 24 of labatt blue and gets wasted.

"Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." Galatians 5:25 The Message

Amen.

posted by:
Heather Wright
The War College
Death and Glory Session

A couple of Warrior Academy notes...

We were spending some time in silent prayer (a miracle in itself, with a group of 2-5 year olds). After a few minutes, I asked the children if Jesus had said anything to them.

One little boy responded that Jesus said he likes it when they pray. Another little girl, 4 years old, said with great confidence that Jesus said they were all diamonds.

When we walk down the street and see people who are drunk or high or passed out on the streets, the children ask if we can stop and pray. My litle girl and boy have become acquainted with one man named Michael. If he is not on his street corner when they pass, they are very concerned. They are constantly asking if they can stop and pray for him.

All of us once stopped and prayed for a man who was passed out on the street. As soon as we started praying, he woke up and stood up, looking very confused, but also a lot healthier.

We are promised, after all, that our youth will dream dreams through the power of the Spirit.

Grace,

Aaron

More today...
My friend John McAlister has started a blog this week at http://justiceandmercy.blogspot.com/ I invite you to bookmark this thoughtful, committed, engaged guy (he's married, but he's engaged incarnationally in mission!). While I'm at it, the numbers are 2,000 in 200 in 20 (on today's blog over there). I might actually blog this, myself, in a little while...

Sue Ann Tarter also started a blog this week. She's at http://www.xanga.com/SoftSpokenSue and can give you the inside scoop on The War College (as can some others on the links to the right). Enjoy.
Much grace,
sec

November 16, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Bruce Robertson wrote these words for Missions fest in 1992, about our town, but appropriate for yours, maybe, too. It goes to the Christmas tune, IN THE BLEAK MID-WINTER.

SONG OF THE CITY

Mounted like a jewel in a setting rare,
Stately buildings gleaming, weath and pride are there.
Yet, o'er sounds of commerce, rushing, milling throng,
I can hear our city sing a mournful song.

City song of struggle, hate and crime abound.
Underprivileged people make discordant sound.
Single mothers, wearied with unceasing care;
Youthful dreams forgotten, burdens they must bear.

City song of sorrow, for a man's deep pain,
Once his drunken laughter echoed down the lane.
Drowned in search for pleasure, longed to know real love;
Missed the one great treasure, life from God above.

City song of mercy, One who sees and knows
Walks the pavement, lonely, dressed in ragged clothes.
Asks that we might follow, sharing His desire;
How shall I be with Him, what does He require?

(Bruce Robertson - January, 1992)
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

November 15, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus'name, friends.
Here's a couple of adverts for you:
1. THE WARRIOR ACADEMY (TWA). This thing is a pretty new development (May this year) that will be playing a key role in world evangelisation, we trust. TWA trains children up to become city-leading warriors. They do Scripture memory stuff, worship, Bible reading, evangelism, prayer, etc. Our crew is pretty young (pre-school- 2-5) right now but we're looking into busting it open into home-school network format to include older kids too.
Anyway, one of the DNA components of TWA is multiplicaiton and each year we want every existing WA to see another one start. That gets you to more than 200 in 20 years.
So, look, we've just put together a clear explanation of what happens and how it works. If you are interested in checking it out, with the possibility of starting one on your front, please contact me (info@thewarcollege.com) and we'll fire one off to you.
2. Christmas is coming. I know you wouldn't know it from the media ('Holidays' are the most popular replacement, but I have noticed a lot of 'winter solstice' this year). I've already blogged some wonderful gift ideas (think Haiti pigs- if you missed it- email me again). Here's another one. For a limited time (let's say til November's end) you can pick up a package deal of BE A HERO and PROVERBIAL LEADERSHIP (these are my two newest books, from this summer) for $20 cdn (plus shipping). You save $13.95 or something. This deal is limited to faithful blog readers, while supplies last. So email me and mention this blog and you get the sweetheart Christmas deal.
There you have it. Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

November 14, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

We're usually dismissive of translations that make 'blessed', 'happy'. We argue that joy is deeper than happiness.

HEALTH Magazine reported this finding that supports the 'happy' conclusion for Christians. A study of 16,000 Americans found that happiness does not increase with an increase in income or sexual partners. The most consistent variable is monogamous sex (HEALTH, November 2004. p107). Researchers compare this to a raise of $100,000 and call it 'the marriage premium'.

You don't need a raise to be happy.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

more today...
I lift this from First Things editorial in August of this year:
(Samuel P.) Huntington writes, “While the American Creed is Protestantism without God, the American civil religion is Christianity without Christ.” He means that the Creed is Protestantism and the civil religion is Christianity, but, whether for reasons of politeness or of ideological secularism, many Americans maintain the disguise by not mentioning God or Christ in public. Huntington is well aware of what would appear to be the great exception to his definition of American identity, namely, the Catholic Church. It is communal rather than individualistic, hierarchical rather than democratic, and it values adherence rather than dissent.

The description of the Catholics (the last sentence) is one I'd happily accept for the Salvationists.

communal over individualistic
- we're stilling pressing in for that elusive authentic Christian community (the fellowship is in the fight).

hierarchical over democratic
- 'salute and go' should never die (WB's phrase was 'implicit obedience' and it continues to serve in battle situations).

adherence over dissent
- not 'adherency' (or adherent members!) :- ) I take this to heart - dissent is over-rated (it is easy to criticise, harder to adhere- as any soldier who's read her O+R recently can attest).

Much grace
stephenc

November 13, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

It looks like we're going to be able to package a pretty cool couple of weeks for you next July. There will be BTI (Booth-Tucker Institute- visit thewarcollege.com for more information). This will tentatively be followed by Patricia King's Glory School and School of Extreme Prophetic (see extremeprophetic.com for more information on the content of the schools- though the dates haven't been confirmed yet). Together, these resources make the trip worthwhile for msot leaders!

to the original O+R midrash:
section 3- first open air (par.3):
"It is most needful to choose the very best possible positions for the first open-air services. Even if refused permission to stand at any one of them afterwards, it may be of all themore imp-ortance to be seen and heard in the very principal streets and places on the first day."

We've recently been unplugged at out open air stands (park by-laws) and unsuccessful at getting permits to amplify again. So I know what he's talking about. Having said that, I wish we'd exploited it more effectively when we had the juice.

Have you used up your political capital on the best open air spots (whatever that might look like on your front) yet?
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

November 12, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I know that conventional wisdom accepts that the Army's early methods were genius relevance for Victorian England.

I disagree. W.T. Stead, Catherine Booth's biographer and William's confidant, made this observation of The Salvation Army:
"There is no more startling paradox in the modern history of England." (CATHERINE BOOTH, 1900. p10,11))

I am inclined to see primitive methods as manifestation of prophetic relevance (e.g. dance hall tunes but sung on the march).

Unrelatedly, (but since I've found this today), he noted, "At its foundation, (The Salvation Army) professed almost entire indifference to anything but the salvation of the individual soul." (p11).

Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Hey, I wanted to slip this one in ...

Yesterday was a special anniversary for me, it was three years ago that I left a Salvation Army Detox and began my journey of faith. I entered the Detox centre on way too much heroin and way too little hope, life seemed a luxury I had missed out on, and death was real. I met Jesus while I was in Detox ... while asleep I was awoken in my room by a supernatural presence and I began weeping uncontrolably, I remember crying out "I dont want to die, please help me" and I tangably felt Jesus come and touch me. He said, "If you give me your life, I will make it whole again," so I prayed the best way I knew how to and was instantly delivered from any desire for drugs. It dosen't end there though, I had been taking insulin for 7 yrs and after that meeting with the living GOD my blood-glucose levels became normal and my Diabetes was completely taken away.
That experience has changed my life for eternity and by God's grace many others in the wake of my living testemony, but there was an even greater wonder I experienced at that point, see I still had no home to go to, I still had nowhere to turn except back to the street. And then I remembered something, when I was in school I went to this Salvation Army Corps and there I met this Cadet named Danielle Strickland, and her Fiance Steve Court, I remembered they talked about Jesus like way I had met him, something was different about them, so in desperation I tracked them down and phoned them. I explained what had hapened to me and my experience, I remember Steve asking me what I was going to do? and I said "I, don't know."
The next day I was on a bus that took me to their house and that night for the first time in several years I slept on a bed ... today, three yrs later, I serve under them in the same neighbourhood I almost died in.
I hear officers and leaders all over the Salvation Army crying out for young people who are sold out, willing to serve GOD and not the world. This year there are only 15 cadets, the lowest number ever. So to the question, "where are the leaders of tomorrow?" I have an answer. They are all around you, they are the kids living in cardbord boxes, in your city!

They are prostituting themselves, right now waiting for someone to save them!

They are sitting weeping, "I don't want to die, Jesus please help me."

They are waiting for you to find them and bring them home.

Steve, Danielle ... I have no words to thank you rightly, so I wont, but I'll Fight. While women weep in darkness I'll fight. While men are lost in pain, I'll fight. While children go on crying, I'll fight. I'll tell of why he came .....

Robert Dolby Death and Glory Session, The War College

November 11, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. We take some time out to reflect on the sacrifice of soldiers in WW1 (and more recently, WW2) that has provided us with an opportunity to bring healing to the nations.

One of the hindrances to us doing that is internecinal fighting. French and English Canadians and 'first nations' people haven't, until recently, dealt with old wounds. If we can experience healing ourselves we can't fulfill ur purposes to help bring healing to the nations (the flag has a leaf, Biblically representative as bringing healing...).

So, thanks to Michael Ramsay for this article- http://www.havelock-viha.com/FPNov11AmericanInvasion.html - which points to a united defence of our country at its origins against American invaders. 4,000 to 800. French and English Canadian, Mohawk, and British professional soldiers united to thwart the attack and changed teh course of history.

This is a prophetic symbol of power of unity. When we unite we will be positioned downstream in the river of God's grace to be used to change the course of history in nations.

God wants us united. We're getting there.

Let's not forget. Soldiers' sacrifices weren't made so we could live comfortable, impotent lives, but so that we can make a difference.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

"I lift up my eyes to the hills"

When you need help, where do you look?
Do you examine the problem closely, probing for the solution?
Do you seek out others for guidance and instruction?
Do you search deep within yourself for the strength to press on?

"Let us give all that lies within us...to pure praise, to pure loving adoration, and to worship from a grateful heart -- a heart that is trained to look up." Amy Carmichael

In times of trouble, where have you trained your heart to look?

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD ,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you-
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."
Psalm 121 NIV

posted by:
Heather Wright
The War College
Death and Glory Session

"I lift up my eyes to the hills"

When you need help, where do you look?
Do you examine the problem closely, probing for the solution?
Do you seek out others for guidance and instruction?
Do you search deep within yourself for the strength to press on?

"Let us give all that lies within us...to pure praise, to pure loving adoration, and to worship from a grateful heart -- a heart that is trained to look up." Amy Carmichael

In times of trouble, where have you trained your heart to look?

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD ,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you-
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."
Psalm 121 NIV

posted by:
Heather Wright
The War College
Death and Glory Session

November 10, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
For those who are dropping in, we began tackling the Articles of War in June or so, and more recently, have been engaging the original Orders and Regulations (if you missed any, check out the archives). Here is today's tidbit.
Old O+R Midrash:
(still in section two of chapter three)
"In conversation with them and with other Christians he will show quiet confidence. With teh experience and force of God and the Army behind him he is right, no matter who inexperienced himself, in speaking as one who knows what all others in the town are ignorant of. But this will make double impression if done quiestly and without any appearance of boasting."

:- )

God wants us to be confident in Him and not shy in our own abilities and experience and resources.

And we can be. We've got all of the force of God and the Army behind us.
Hallelujah!
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Over the next two hours, roughly 6000 people will die of starvation or preventable hunger-related diseases. Of those 6000, 2000 will be children.

Consider carefully how you spend the next two hours.

Rob talked about time and money spent on entertainment vs. time and money spent on children at risk. Entertainment is a massive issue for Christians, and not just because of surface moral issues. The entertainment industry is designed to keep us in a fog, to distract our attention away from issues that actually impact the world. Remember Rwanda? 1994? One million people killed in a genocide? Few people do, because the attention of the world was quite rightly focused upon a celebrity driving slowly down the highway in a white Ford Bronco after allegedly killing his wife. The "trial of the century" is just one example of the richest population in the world becoming consumed by info-tainment, to the point that children being butchered remains almost entirely off the radar screen. Again, this is the purpose of entertainment and advertising: to consume our time and our money and turn us into nothing more than consumers.

We are not called to be consumers. We are called to be creators.

Grace,

Aaron

A lot has been blogged and written about the identity of the Salvation Army recently. What holds us together?

I have had the luxury of being involved with three different "radical" expressions of salvationism. (Radical in the sense that they tend to get people very upset, inside and outside of the Salvation Army, and they tend to be very effective and true to the roots of our movement).

All three have their strengths and weaknesses, and they all look very different. But there may be a common thread.

One friend of mine says that what unites us is Covenant. I can buy that, mainly because our covenant covers both belief and practice. If it only covered one or the other I don't think it would have the ability to do much at all.

Another friend says that what unites us is the poor. I buy into this as well. We have bound ourselves inextricably to the poor. Their fight is our fight. I don't think this is made explicit enough in our covenant, but I think implicit in everything should be a heart for the suffering and the poor and the dying.

So what if we were to unite those two ideas, and say that what unites us as the Salvation Army is that we are covenanted to the poor. I know that our promises are to God, but then I take seriously the notion that to love the least of our neighbours is what it means in practical terms to love God.

I just think the two go hand in hand, whereby both covenant and mission to the poor our core essentials of who we are, a major part of our inheritance, and the things that identify us world-wide in depth, rather than just on the surface.

Grace,

Aaron

more today...
I read, regarding one political group in the world today, "They are too weak to lead, and too proud to follow."

Ouch! Apply this spiritually and see what happens.
much grace
sec

November 9, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Back to the old O+R midrash:
ch3,sect1;para16 (How to Capture a Town; Finish Business)
"He should, so far as possible, finish all these and any other necessary business matters, before setting himself to spiritual work. When his mind is done with all this, and after full necessary rest, if exhausted, and if he has time for that purpose, he will be able to give all of his attention to the souls of the people with far more effect than if he were to be spending odd bits of time at this amid the hurry and bother of business affairs.
"Happy the Commanding Officer for whom all these arrangements are made beforehand, and who, whether arriving one day or one week before opening Sunday has no other care than that of souls to attend to. Shame upone such a one if the opening by not the very greatest spiritual success!

I've heard of other instances, in which the person does spiritual stuff solely and falls in debt in the local community. The lack of integrity leaves a terrible scar on the Army's reputation, and that of the whole Body of Christ, and proves a bigger hindrance to the goal of winning the town than a month of business beforehand.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

more today...
I'm looking into the effects of terrorism on evangelism (and evangelisation) and came across this conclusion from a new study: "John F. Kennedy School of Government researcher Alberto Abadie has published a study refuting the widely held belief that terrorism is produced by poverty, finding instead that terrorism is directly related to political freedom: Harvard Gazette: Freedom squelches terrorist violence." (thanks to littlegreenfootballs.com)
If the Son sets you free...
interesting.
grace
stephenc

more today...
A new movie called The Incredibles is fresh out and this article
http://nationalreview.com/comment/mathewesgreen200411080815.asp describes as a film about the sanctity of marriage.
I've not seen it yet.
grace
stephenc

more today...
Jay Nordlinger (nationalreview.com) quotes Hunter Thompson complaining about the American election: "They must have all voted the same way they pray."
That sounds like a nice working definition of integrity.
Much grace,
stephenc

more today...
My friend Erin Dabis is blogging at http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=erinlyne and you might want to check it out (try her single HERE AM I-some sweet worship sounds)...
grace,
stephenc

November 8, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Rob's blog last night is almost puke-worthy. That serves to introduce you to Rob Dolby, another in our armybarmy blog community. He is our first slum brother, a powerful warrior.

Rob, we hope you will give us contact information to respond.

The Half Time Show blogging from Cory Harrison (242) has stirred a lot up. I encourage you to check it out. I steal this bit from that, by Railton:

"No hope of doing good hereafter can justify the doing of worldly or doubtful things for the purpose of raising money." --Twenty-One Years Salvation Army.

Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

I spent $9.00 at Starbucks today, and am going to a movie in half an hour. That's a total of $ 30 - $ 40 on entertainment, and an investment of about 5 hours of time. That's more money than I tithed this week and more time logged into the world than in prayer today.
My friend Dr. Paul Thistle runs the Howard Hospital in Zimbabwe, and there he and his staff care for babies dying of A.I.D.S. If a mother takes AZT for several days before giving birth, her child will be born without A.I.D.S.!
The Meds cost $ 5.60 CAD ....
It cost me 6 kids lives to entertain myself today.

How many babies did you spend on fun this week?

God forgive me.

Robert J Dolby Death and Glory

November 7, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus name, friends.
God is good. He keeps humbling and teaching.
I am so glad for the friends I have. One got sick and another discerned the cause and battled against it effectively.
All in one weekend.
Hallelujah!
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

November 6, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Some people wonder about the age of responsibility, the age for which you are culpable for your sin.
I've got a little warrior for a son and he's got some friends. They can answer a lot of my questions, but not 'why'.

I think that's the measure. When you can answer the 'why' question, you've reached the age of responsibility. That is, when you can explain why you did something wrong, you need to plead the blood for forgiveness of it.

Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Steve threw out a term today that I evidently coined: "proto-post-modern salvationism." That is a mouthful, and probably not very useful a term.

Post-modernism itself is a term not understood by most people. I once had a friend in University tell me he would give 1000 dollars to the first person who could actually explain what it means. I hope he's reading, because I'm going to give it a shot (though briefly).

The term itself reflects both the time we are living in (we are no longer living in the "modern" age of the factory, imperialism, print media, rationalism, etc...) and a certain kind of philosophy that tries to explain reality as it exists now. The age we are living in is far more experiential and experimental, puts far less emphasis on logic and the written word, wants to hear voices from the margins (those whom society shuts out), and is more interested in someone being "good" than in someone being "right". No man made thing is considered sacred or automatically authoritative, different types of communities (including online communities) are being established, there is a new found emphasis on "spirituality", and the divide between body and spirit is being debunked.

What on earth does this have to do with Christianity and the Salvation Army?

Well, if we wish to communicate the gospel effectively in our world, we need to know the culture. Just like Paul on Mars Hill, we need to understand what people believe and where they are at, who their gods are, as it were.

The great thing is, we are part of a denomination that has a powerful tradition of doing just that. The Salvation Army, though born in the modern age, has in its tradition many elements of what I would call post-modernism.

There was a rejection of calling man-made things sacred, leading to a perpetual experimentation with ways and methods. There was the push to give voices and dignity to people forgotten by society. There was the incarnation into culture embodied by missionaries such as Booth-Tucker in India. New types of communities were established, and there was a realisation that full salvation included body, soul and spirit. Our communities did not just focus on being "right" but also on being "good".

We are therefore well positioned, by taking up the inheritence of the early Salvation Army, to effectively communicate the gospel in a post-modern world.

Of course, this requires us to not simply copy the old ways of doing things. It means taking the spirit of the old and discovering how to apply it today. Our Army will not look the same as it did in the 19th century (or even the 1950's), if it is to have impact now.

Grace,

Aaron White

more today...
Welcome to Aaron White and Elaine Gillingham, who are now official members of the armybarmy blog family.

Aaron White is the author of Futurize, a postmodern expert, instructor at The War College, and leader of youth and children cells at 614 Vancouver.

Elaine is a prophetic, intercessory, deliverance warrior who helps lead 614 Vancouver and The War College.

Welcome aboard, mates.
Much grace,
stephenc

more today...

A comrade is starting up something and asked for some suggestions:

I'd try the following kinds of things:
1. live in the neighbourhood. This will be very influential to people ad give you much credibility.
2. Start like you mean to continue. So if you want there to be much personal prayer ministry, for example, then start that way.
3. I'd start cells. I believe that cells are the present and near future for the Church. Small groups allow you to break through bald spot Christianity (staring at the back of someone's head for an hour on Sunday) to face-to-face relationships where you actually deal with stuff.
4. Don't diss the teens. They can handle only so much pizza and basketball. Take them with you. Challenge hard and run with the guys who buy in.
5. Think big, start small, go deep.
6. Pray strategically- Pray hard, pray long, pray often.
7. Gather a team, if you can. That will accelerate the 2Tim2:2 multiplication process.
8. Go for prophetic relevance. God has called us to a prophetic role. Your post moderns want something experiential. You can afford to be relevant in this case since the primitive Army is proto-postmodern (Aaron White's term) and God is very interested in experience...
9. Aim to win the world for Jesus. Die trying.
10. Invest a significant amount of time in the neighbourhood, knowing people, being a part of the community.
much grace
sec

November 5, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
My friend asked me about uniform, it's relevance and so on. The context of the question is him being in relaationship with a great evangelist who is not too much into uniform. Here's my quick, editted response:

Jack is an amazing evangelist and could get a hyper-terrorist saved on September 11, so maybe he can't see that for normal humans like you and me a uniform is like making us Billy Graham out on the streets. Quite aside from that, how about this- uniform is our sign of covenant community. It is the coolest new argument I've heard and I buy it (not exclusively, of course, since most of the identification and evangelism type positions are also credible).

Oh, and you mention relevance. The desire for relevance is a false presumption. Relevance is usually good, don't get me wrong. But I think we need a more robust term- how about prophetic relevance? You see, we're raised up as a prophetic movement, to speak to the Body but also to the world. Our success is not predicated upon relevance, but upon prophetic relevance. If we're entirely and only relevant we'd miss our prophetic calling.

Geoff Ryan writes compellingly about this romantic/heroic approach in TO BE OR NOT TO BE? (must reading- it is in SOWING DRAGONS), in which he says:
"We didn’t just talk about evangelism and read books on it. We kitted up and headed for the front and never stopped to inquire politely of people ‘would you like to join us?’ We lived our heroic lives amid the everyday and people flocked to our colors. The only question we asked was ‘can you keep up?’ We were heroes, to saints and sinners alike. 

This would not pass the church growth of friendship evangelism test. But it worked. And I believe it still works. We had the Cariboo Hill Temple Band our for an open air Sunday (every two weeks) and interspersed with our guys giving testimonies and gospel shots, we worked up a crowd. One person got saved (and we got him into treatment- addict). Is is relevant? No. Does that matter? No.

I understand the desire to make things smooth and cool and relevant. I think we have some of the most kicking worship sessions in the Army world out where we are (not that the music is the best, but that there is great freedom, listening to God's direction, and cool songs). But we do 2 1/2 open airs a week and do street combat and prayer walks and so on (have a 24/7 war room since February, etc.) and all kinds of stuff that is considered irrelevant, but which is really just prophetic.

We don't want to relinquish the prophetic mantle just to be relevant (I think an argument can be made that you don't have to, but I think that it is often the result).
What do you think?
much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

more today...
ouch...
look, I don't keep up with this stuff but thanks to Cory Harrison you can preview the half time show for the Army's kettle kick off at half time of the American thanksgiving football game, Hit http://www.primitivesalvo.blogspot.com/ . He raises some excellent questions. I hope that I don't compromise on my front, in my DVDs, in my telvision, in my CDs, in my internet sites, in my conversation, in my thoughts, in my actions, in my ambitions, in my relationships, in my dreams...
Much grace,
sec

more today...
Booth-Tucker Institute is a one-week leader's incarnational refersher course in Vancouver's downtown eastside (Canada's poorest postal code).
The next session is July 5-11, 2005.
We're taking applications now from thewarcollege.com (where there is a page of explanation on the whole thing).
To date we've had exclusively officers, but local officers are welcome to apply as well.
Spots are somewhat limited (but if it fills early we might be able to add a second session).
Fire me questions at info@thewarcollege.com.
It is a key time to network, invest, deposit, impart, transfer, ignite, and go incendiary.
Pray about joining us.
Much grace
sec

Novmber 4, 2004.
Greetingsin Jesus' name, friends.
People have been too nice to me lately, so, here goes...
I've just read in NATIONAL POST that BC's crime rate is 40% worse than Canada's as a whole, and my neighbourhood (downtown eastside) is 50% worse than the rest of BC!
Elizabeth Nickson suggests that cracking down on crime might save the lives of prostitutes who are raped and prostitutes who are killed.
I concur.
Harm reduction is a failure (starting at the conceptual stage). Treating the drug trade as a sickness is ridiculous.
Many people attest to the fact that bars force your to go clean (I know there are some drugs behind bars, but I am led to believe that they are not pervasive).
So, it is possible to get clean. Go to jail.
Better yet, go to detox!
Better yet, get saved!
There is enough Christian stuff going on here that on an even playing field, he neighbourhood could be transformed. All we need is for the courts to refrain from decanting criminal overnight as the police try to do their duty.
It would also be nice if the government money wasn't always poured into programmes that hurt the war- the enemy is strong enough already.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Good day!

I've been in much communication lately with brothers and sisters in the faith globally, regarding what God has planned for their future. Whether they've already been across the world preaching the Gospel and being obedient to God's revealed plan for their life or they aren't even done secondary school yet (but already stressin' about what will happen once they've graduated)there is a common theme amongst them all:

What if I'm not good enough to do what God is calling me to do?

This certainly isn't anything new - I'm sure there are heads all around the world, nodding in affirmation as they read this, 'I can identify with that.'

Well, biblically, so can many others. We find Moses ("Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt!") or Jeremiah, Prophet to the nations (O Sovereign LORD,I can't speak for you! I'm too young!") and on and on with the same fears. In each situation, the Lord puts those fears to rest with truth:

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb."
"Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."
"Go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say."
"Don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you."

What is the Lord asking you to do for the advancement of His Kingdom?
Does it feel beyond your capability? Do you feel too small?
Remember this friends - disciples are made, not born.

Paul says this to the church at Corinth, and it fits for me and for you and the next guy too:

"My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you." 1 Corinthians 1:26

Do you remember what you were like before Christ came to reign in your life?
Hmm, I thought so! Now, look at how He's used you so far! (if you don't think He's used you, ask those whom you are in community with to help you out)

My friends, don't let anything hold you back in the salvation war.
Don't sell yourself short, because there is resurrection power within YOU and it's NOT been placed there by accident.
He has created your inmost being.
He knit you together in your mother's womb.
He knows what you are capable of and desires to see you reach not only full potential and fruitfulness, but to soar on wings like eagles and enjoy every moment!
He desires that you would be able to say with the Apostle Paul:
"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:13

If you are struggling with taking the next step into God's Will for your life and would like prayer and encouragement, please email me @ heatherwrighteous@hotmail.com


posted by:
Heather Wright
614 Vancouver
The War College
Death and Glory Session

Greetings brothers and sisters,
I have been reading back over devotional journals that I've kept since I became a Christian and have noticed (sadly) that while I have dutifully read my Bible for years, I haven't always believed that what I read was true.
Now, before my corps officer falls off of his chair, I will add that I have always thought that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and that they only constitute the divine rule of Christian faith and practice. The deal is that I wasn't actually using them as a divine rule for MY Christian faith and practice. Instead I was muddling through on my own and when the going would get tough I would stop and think to myself: "Gee...I thought that everything was supposed to be easy once I asked Jesus to come and live in my heart, this stinks!"

Paul teaches Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 about how to deal with the frustrations and discouragements and strife of Christian life:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
Hmm...go to the Word - that's where the answers are. That made sense for Timothy, I thought, so why not for me too?

This realization that the Bible was actually a gift from God by way of an instruction manual on how to be trained up in righteousness and deal with day to day life, led me to a turning point...I arrived at a steep hill in my Christian walk where the Lord showed me that thus far, I had been content with milk - reading my superficial, daily devotional, just so that I could check it off of the spiritual to-do list and put my conscience at rest "what? I'm a good Christian, I spent time in the Word today...I'm not sure what I read, what it meant or how I'm going to apply it to my life, but I know I read something"

I am reminded of Hebrews 5:11-14:

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

There were so many things that God wanted to show me and teach me and use me for, but I was satisfied with the milk - the infant's diet - and I wasn't consistently partaking of the solid food which would be pursuing and grasping the teachings He had for me within His Word, therefore, not only was I of little use teaching others, but I was having quite a time myself distinguishing good from evil. This is indeed a very grave situation for a child of God to be in.

I fear that I am not alone in my generation (and even beyond) in this area of Christian living. Our knowledge of the Word of God? Poor. Our capacity to memorize secular movies, quoting line after line after line for our own amusement? Superb.
Hmm...that can't be right.


What shifted, was the realization that the Holy Scriptures exist as the actual living breath of God , Holy Spirit stirring within my spirit and stimulating me into life change, opening the eyes of my heart to supernatural possibility available through Christ Jesus! Can I get an amen?!

Friends, the truth is that the Bible is not some religious obligation, or mundane requirement to our faith but our Father's preferred means of teaching us, rebuking us, correcting us and training us for righteousness.
Since that shift, I have started my crusade, delving into the Word for the promises that God has made to me through Jesus Christ and then claiming them for my life, believing that they will manifest themselves if only I would believe.

I pray that you would have the eyes to see what God has contained for within His Word.
I pray Jehovah that you would release a voracious appetite onto Your children, that we would pursue You through Your Word and we would cry out for wisdom and revelation and that Your Kingdom would manifest through Your Bride, the Church and in that way Your Kingdom WILL Come and Your Will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I pray it in the Name of Your beloved, Jesus Amen.

posted by:
Heather Wright
The War College
Death and Glory Session

November 3, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

A comrade wrote me frustrated that we are not always encouraged to represent the Army. The specific incident dealt with a social justice issue.

Here's part of a quick response...

You are saddened that we don't represent the whole Army. Look, I am glad that those in favour of abortion in some situations don't publicly represent their opinions as the Army's. I am glad when the harm reduction fans don't spread their false gospel as a belief of The Salvation Army. I am glad when those who support other political parties and positions and philosophies than I do don't represent their alliances as official SA platforms. I'm glad when stem cell advocates don't pretend that their view is the Army's view. I am glad when those who those who pick and choose what to follow in the Bible don't represent their bad theology as Army doctrine. I'm pretty glad that they don't represent the whole Army.

You argue that we believe the fundamentals. Obviously we don't. Most of us believe that you can ask Jesus into your heart and show up on Sundays and still sleep at night. Many of us believe LEFT Behind on end times more than the Bible. Lots of us don't buy Biblical holiness, let alone experience it. Some of us think you can't lose your salvation. A few of us favour all religions going to heaven, marrying practising homosexuals, and cohabitation before you get married. We don't share the same fundamental beliefs in the Bible, not to mention the interpretation of it.

I am not thrilled with the status quo, but I am glad, short-term, that those who disagree are modest about it. Until we come to agreement in truth, that might be as good as it gets.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

more today...

Danielle and I are preaching at a thing next year and the website promoting it had this line: "They speak with the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit and they will surely challenge, anger, and inspire us."

Anger you? Anger you? We're not going to anger most people. We like to pump them up! I'm aghast!

:- )

Much grace
sec

more today...

There is a brand new battlegear store now open online for you to pick up some clothing and other items to help you represent the Army in the warfare.

It is now featured at the 242 bit on armybarmy.com but the store is at cafepress.com/battlegearstore. Cory Harrison has pulled this initiative together. It looks like a great resource.

Why not check it out for your Christmas shopping?

Much grace,
sec

November 2, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I've noticed that the 242 Blog has been picking up in consistency recently. I can wholeheartedly recommend it to you and will be sticking it on my links to the right shortly. http://www.primitivesalvo.blogspot.com/

My prediction: 39-11.

Our cell leaders cell 'did' simplicity for the last fortnight, and somehow I as out of the room when they decided to do it again! Ouch.

More later.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

November 1, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Happy All Saints Day!

How nice to go from Reformation Day to All Saints Day.

old O+R midrash, continued (chapter 3, sectoin 1, paragraph 19 ('how to capture a town; attack!')

"But no one is fit to capture a town who is not abe to invent special plans of his own, besides all that have ever been tried, and such as will suit him and the particular town and people with which he is dealing.

I guess the message is that our God is doing a new thing. We need ot listen up to hear it. There are no cookie cutters allowed. Each front is different. Each requires peculiar tactics.

The next line I actually quoted in BE A HERO:
"Under ordinary circumstances a daring, reckless, determined Commanding Officer can make himself known to 30,000 in less than three days.

Now if this isnt one of the most outstanding lines in the O+R (or the complete body of printed work in the history of mankind) I'll eat the page it is printed on.

No blackberries, no palm pilots, no MSN Chat, no email nor internet, no television, no radio, no airplanes, no satellites... and yet a daring, reckless, determined officer can it 30,000 i less tha three days.

I am dumbfounded.

Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court
info@thewarcollege.com

October 31, 2004.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Happy Reformation Day!

With a nod to Mark (who told me about this at Men's Camp) and Michael (who I strongly suspect nailed the 95 theses to my door sometime late last night), let me inform you that it is REFORMATION DAY!

This is the day Luther did his thing on the door.

The world will never be the same (if you don't believe me indulge in a little fantasy historical revisionism without a reformation).

I wonder if we go around tonight nailing four spiritual laws on people's doors if their worlds will never be the same?

:- ) If only it was that easy...

Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court