Armybarmy Blog

Hebrews, Greeks And Romans
Ravi Zacharias is one of our favourite thinkers and speakers. His 'A Slice of Infinity' is classic, concise, captivating stuff. Here is an example (from rzim.org):
"Ravi Zacharias

In a recent television interview, Charlie Rose questioned Frank McCourt, best-selling author of Angela’s Ashes, about his spirituality. McCourt likened all of the world’s religions to a smorgasbord or buffet before him, and he takes a little of this from here and a bit of that from there—whatever pleases him. Needless to say, religious truth is not what it used to be, and any appeals to absolutes in religion or elsewhere are considered power plays at best and discriminatory at worst.

The Apostle Paul, living in a pluralistic culture, was convinced that the Christian faith departs from other faiths in a significant way. Allow me to explain. Paul was a man of many cultures: Hebrew by birth, educated in a Greek city, a citizen of Rome. Each of those cultures had its own ideals and its own metaphor for ultimate reality. Specifically, the Hebrews gave to the world our moral categories; the Greeks have given us our philosophical categories; the Romans, our legal categories.

For the Hebrew the great pursuit of life was symbolized by light: “The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?” “The true Light which gives light to every man was coming into the world.” For the Hebrews, light said it all.

For the Greeks, the ultimate goal was knowledge. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” “I know whom I have believed,” said Paul. For the Romans, the epitome of life was symbolized by glory. Rome was a city to which all roads led. It was not built in a day. It was the eternal city-you’ve heard of the glory of the Roman Empire, the glory of the Caesars.

So we have light, knowledge, glory; the ideals of these three great cultures. Writing to believers in a city that embodied all three influences, Paul said, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, [has] shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

How that captures every longing and ideal! All are ultimately shown to us in a face. Here we see the ultimate expression of God, the culmination of God’s revelation. It was not restricted to the philosophy of Greece, the spiritual experience of the Hebrews, or the glory of an earthly city. “Do you want to see God?” ask the writers. Look at the face of Christ. That face beckons you not to a smorgasbord of fleeting tastes but to a life of eternal joy."
____
grace,
StephenC

cautionary tale (reliable source)
Hi- this was sent me today... 
Story from Indonesia

We know that 80% of the town of Meulabohin Aceh was
destroyed by the Tsunami waves and 80% of the people also died. This is one
of the towns that was hit the hardest.

But there is a fantastic testimony from Meulaboh. In that town are about
400 Christians. They wanted to celebrate Christmas on December 25th but
were not allowed to do so by the Muslims of Meulaboh. They were told if
they wanted to celebrate Christmas they needed to go outside the city of
Meulabohon a high hill and there celebrate Christmas.

 Because the Christians desired to celebrate Christmas the 400 believers
left the city on December 25th and after they celebrated Christmas they
stayed overnight on the hill.

As we all know the morning of December 26 there was the earthquake followed
by the Tsunami waves destroying most of the city of Meulabohand thousands
were killed. The 400 believers were on the mountain and were all saved from
destruction. Now the Muslims of Meulaboh are saying that the God of the
Christians punished us for forbidding the Christians from celebrating
Christmas in the city. Others are questioning why so many Muslims died
while not even one of the Christians died there. Had the Christians
insisted on their rights to celebrate Christmas in the city, they would
have all died. But because they humbled themselves and followed the advice
of the Muslims they all were spared destruction and can now testify of
God's marvelous protection. This is a testimony of the grace of God and the
fact that as believers we have no rights in the world. Our right is come
before God and commit our lives to Him. Our right is kneeling down before
the Lord almighty and commit our ways to Him. He is our Father and is very
capable to care for His children. Praise the Name of the Lord.
___
grace
stephenc

February 27, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I just read Andrew Clark's blog (Army Renewal- top right). He has this bit:
Bill Hybels said in one of his books, "If you want to know how popular a denomination is, go to its morning service. If you want to know how popular a preacher is, go to the evening service. If you want to know how popular Jesus is, go to the prayer meeting."

Nice.
grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

delirious, U2, and Chris Michel
Well, what do you know? What do these three musical groups have in common? The grapevine is telling me that U2 is in town for the next month practising for their tour, at GM Place (maybe five minutes' walk from our neighbourhood). I also hear that d: will be using the same facility for a worship concert coming up and that salvo dj Chris Michel is opening for them (way to go, Chris!).
Yahoo.
grace,
sec
PS if any of you know the first two, let them know they are welcome to join us for knee drill Thursday night at the Crosswalk - 6:30 kick-off.

Horizons Mailbag
(playing: delirious- world service)

The March/April Horizons (SA leadership mag) came out this weekend with some notable letters to the editor. I thought I'd comment on their comments...

Laity Gap (Tim Thompson)- Tim is an established blogger who writes with some entertaining irony in tone. He wonders why 'laity' (I used the scare "s around this evil term) don't seem to write much for Horizons. "Perhaps the laity is too busy being volunteers plus doing their regular jobs plus involvement in non-Army community efforts. Perhaps they do have the sense, as Colonel Shepherd auulded to, that 'there may well be a perception that the Army is an officer's Army, which makes its decisions aournd the criteria of officer needs and interests.' Perhaps the laity doesn't see the 'problem' in the same light as the officers and so don't see the need to engage in endless soul-searching about the Army's 'crisis'." Nice. :- )

Selling our Birthright (Wally Court)- My Dad bludgeons the reader with statistic after statistic shouting decline in our territory. He suggests that we actually try some of the programmes that seemed to work so well until we dropped them. My pet example for this argument is the Ward System. In everything I've found to read on it, the Ward System was a wonderful means of cultivating community, developing accountability and discipleship, providing environment for evangelism, and organizing the troops. The only problem is, I've only met ONE person alive who has ever seen it working in a corps (and that was more than 60 years ago). Why did we dump it? TODAY, the largest churches in the world are ALL similarly structured (they call them cells).

Celebrate New Believers (Captain Miriam Stevens)- this letter starts out as if it will be another request to sprinkle or dunk believers in water. But, thanksfully, it changes direction. I disagree with the premise that baptism sort of equals soldiership enrollment, but am intrgiued by the proposal of adopting the Personal Covenant in the Ceremonies Book to celebrate new converts.

Army Essentials (Pernell Goodyear)- Another established blogger takes aim, in this case, at a probable slip in a reserve colonel's choice of words. The unfortunate selection was 'essentials' when describing uniform, open airs, and Army terminology. The offered replacements were Trinity, Bible, our doctrines, and our mission. Chick Yuill argues (in his paper in the current JAC) that there are no distinctives of the Army that are not distinctives of the whole church. If true that knockks guys like Pernell and Rowan and Clifton and me off of our horses, and short-circuits many a parlour-room conversation.

If I get a chance, I might take on the articles, too.
much grace,
sec

February 26, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
We watched REDEMPTION tonight- a docu (sort of) of a murderer who got saved- the founder of a big gang in LA. Its preachable.
grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

February 25, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Things are picking up for MMCCXX (see current JAC- top right). We've got lots of expansion opportunities and new outposts on the books.
All we need is some zealots.
Are you in(terested)?
One good thing would be to attend BTI (see thewarcollege.com). It's July 6-11. Or email me- info@thewarcollege.com
Much grace,
StephenC

February 24, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Get this (I got it from The Corner blog):
“Though Muslims make up only 3 percent of the British population, more people attend Friday prayers than go to Sunday church, a recent survey found.”
Ouch.
grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

No Need
I was convicted last night in my cell meeting by my friend Jonathan S. He was telling me about sleeping outside for 14 months in Charlotte a few years ago and how he was connected with a church there. After describing it to me, I asked him if it was a good church.

He paused and reflected, then quoted Acts 4:34: "There were no need among them."

"No need. Now, that's a good church."

Ouch. The mirror is pretty unforgiving. Lots of easy questions ('who is my neighbour?') but no easy answers...
Much grace,
stephenC

rootsCanada postponed 'til next year.
Hi- you heard it here first, but you'll want to change your plans for that weekend. Look, you can save a little money if you read Major Richard Munn's great Bible study on the Trinity (the theme of all the ROOTS this year) in the current JAC (see top right). It is great stuff.
grace,
stephenc

February 23, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I was over-the-top blessed this weekend with the cover of an old War Cry. I wish you could see it (and will endeavour to make that possible soon). It is a 1944 Canadian War Cry, featuring black and white artwork of a high-collared soldier wielding a sword (labeled 'salvation') in attackingn a ferocious dragon (labeled 'sin') with the massive headline "I'll Fight!".

The line under says this: SIN'S SNARLING CHALLENGE will be vigorously met by Salvationists during teh November Soul-Saving Offensive in the Canadian Territory. Every true warrior of the Cross is invited to unite in the onslought on the enemy of souls.

Amen. This is what it is all about. And my father was a teenager when this came out. This isn't 19th century stuff. How about i?
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

MORE THINGS YOU"D NEVER SEE IN ORANGEVILLE.

We had a cell group here the other day that was unlike one I'd expect to have in Orangeville.

We were talking about the woman caught in adultery, and getting the expected commenst vis a vis having compassion, stoning people not being a good thing, the Pharisees being a bunch of jerks, etc... when one old guy suddenly piped up:

"I'd still be throwing stones!"

We asked him what he meant by that, and he replied that given the opportunity, he'd still be throwing stones at his ex-wife who he had caught in adultery. It completely ruined his life, drove him to heroin, and took his kids away from him. He would quite happily have executed her, if the law had allowed it (and in fact encouraged it in this context).

His comments really forced us to consider the pain of sin, and the power of Jesus' actions here. He was able to not condemn the woman, even though she had done something very wrong indeed, because he himself would take on the condemnation for her sins. In essence, he was just delaying the stone-throwing and changing up the victim.

It is of course possible, even likely, that people feel the same way as that old man in a place like Orangeville, or in any other place in the world. Sin rends relationships and hearts everywhere. But it is unlikely that the depth of his pain would be so quickly and publicly expressed in a place where emotional extremes are not on display.

God forbid this passage should lead us into any kind of cheap grace. And thank God that the stark realities down here constantly remind me of the scandalous power and freedom of what God is offering the world through Jesus.

Grace,

Aaron

I LOVE YOU

Electralyte's first single is out, and available free at the demo of the week feature of armybarmy.com. You should check these guys out (and pick up their EP). Serious words and thoughts. Catchy music. Strong production. Hallelujah!

grace
sec

February 22, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
If you haven't taken in Major Chick Yuill's article in the current Journal of Aggressive Christianity, "WHY DO THEOLOGY?". I invite you to invest the time to engage it (top right- JAC ONLINE).
I'm happy for comments - info@thewarcollege.com.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

What Can I Say?
(from Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback- si.com):
Quote of the Week
"It's incredible. What more can you ask for? Even being mentioned in the same sentence as Jesus or God ... I mean, those guys are awesome. I'm just a knucklehead."
-- Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon, who, by all appearances, actually answered a question in Boston Magazine about his Jesus-like appearance seriously.
grace
sec

Hi- there is another blogger up and running. Rachael Collins, from Perth (now a Martyr in Vancouver), is at http://fatjustice.blogspot.com/
Enjoy,
grace
stephenc

Quick Response.
Last night I posted the thing about people wanting to make a tshirt- It's better on the inside- and this morning, Bloggee Mary Parks spun that idea off to a similar idea for a t shirt. She's posted it here- It's up for grabs (let her know if you use it): http://www.maryannparks.com/in-or-out.html
grace
stephenc

February 21, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I just got a short note from a friend in Asia who forwarded a cryptic note from another friend about an escalation of persecution in that region (how's that for vague?).

I just throw it out to offer myself and you some perspective on the Christian life and 2 Timothy 3:12 (everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted).

Much grace to our brothers and sisters out there undergoing persecution.
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Feburary 20, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Look, my friends were training people to do evangelism yesterday and in preparation for actual evangelism made a pitch for peole to get saved, so that they could see others get saved- three did- Hallelujah!
Anyway, a couple of guys were not buying the options they gave, and Fleur said, 'you're either in or out- it's better on the inside.'
People loved the line so much they are talking about t shirts saying- it's better on the inside.

It is.
grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

I'm a Jesuit...

Michael Ramsay has suggested that my last post on cultural literacy suggests that I am an undercover Jesuit.

I am totally fine with this. The Society of Jesus is really the proto-Salvation Army. "Soldiers for Christ under the banner of the King" is their rallying cry, and "Ad majorem Dei Gloria" (To God be the Glory) is their motto.

They have a General, and have a quasi-military set-up.

They have to complete a set of Exercises to be admitted into the order, and their Rule is based on simplicity, chastity, poverty, and obedience.

They were amongst the best at cross cultural missions work, incarnational ministry, and service to the poor.

Many people, including governments and at times the Catholic Church, despised them, banned them from countries, and even canceled their order for a time.

They have sweet long black robes that look well fierce.

I do like to think of myself as a member of the Society of Jesus.

Grace,

Aaron

Good day comrades!

"Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us... Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it."
-ROMANS 15:1-3 (The Message)

That's the deal with this Christ-centred life we are meant to live out among the unbelievers. This is what catches their eye - not just doing what is most convenient for us, but lending a hand to those who falter. THIS is following Christ's example to us, wading right in - to misery and difficulty and controversy and discomfort (both physical and political) and actually TAKING ON the troubles of the troubled.
It sounds big, and it is...but follow the formula - THINK big, START small, go DEEP.

Beware of the cop-out:
"I've already reached my 'ministry hours' quota this week, somebody else can catch this one"
"This is not in my job description, and therefore not my responsibility."
"I don't have time for this."

"We often say, “My time is my own.” But it’s a nonsense: you’ll find it is not your own. My time is not my own. It is God’s gift to me. This life I’m living is not actually my own life. It came to me as a gift from another. I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t earn it. It’s His gift to me – and to you. Woe betide us if we fritter away on our idle fancies and ambitions those lives He’s given us – in defiance of His will. We, too, will be broken in pieces, one day." c.ref - Psalm 2:7b-9
-MARK ASHTON

Yahweh, the Great I AM, the Creator of Heaven and Earth is not so interested with the contents of our day planners and palm pilots as with the salvation of souls and reconciliation of the lost to Him.
You may argue that He cares about each detail of our life from the moment we wake up until we crawl into bed, (including meetings and packing bagged lunches and sermon prep) and it's true His thoughts about us are more than we can count, and they are loving thoughts, but perhaps there are sorrowful thoughts too - His Heart mourns for the lost. Do ours? Do we count it an inconvenience when Holy Spirit sweeps into our day with a divine appointment?

“[Love] has never cared about my schedule. It just barges in whenever it wants to.”
- MIRIAM MAKEBA

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

An addendum to teen stuff.....

A comment on Steve's question to teens starting outposts. All good stuff, but I would add something as well that wasn't there very strongly.

Its very important to be teaching Biblical literacy for missionaries, but how about cultural literacy as well? Teens are already fairly well versed in popular culture (although I have to say that a depressing number of Christian teens are NOT very well equipped to reach the teen cultures, having been largely sheltered from them).

I think the Bible needs to be studied in the context of the culture you are trying to reach. The word of God is never spoken into a cultural void. We need to understand the cultures in which the Bible was written, and the culture into which we want to live it out, if we want to be a bridge between the two.

We also need to study our culture in order to see where God is already at work.

Grace,

Aaron

February 18, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
(playing- I KNOW A FOUNT)
"Age is prudent, cautious, and oftentimes timid and fearful. Youth is generous, hopeful, courageous, daring, unentangled, willing to take risks, unafraid."
(SLB LOVE SLAVES. p34).
I'll go for the best-case combo, please.
graec,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 17, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Here are some stats about our area...
- % of homeless people in Vancouver not on welfare- 75.
- percent increase in homeless population in last three years- 50%
- % increase in BC food bank use this year- 16
- % increase in children's use this year- 41.7
We're not winning this war on the larger front.
Much grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

February 16, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Our comrades in the States have finally captialized on 'inventing' doughnuts (well, some would say we've been collecting on the backs of the donut girls in the States for nearly a century). Check here:

http://www.salvationarmy.usawest.org/usw/www_newfrontierpub.nsf/vw_home2/5085F5CA51B29B7188256F96006C81CB?opendocument

I wonder if their slogan is something like, 'slam back a dozen for the Salvos'?
grace
stephenc

Posted by: armybarmy / 10:41 AM

February 15, 2005.
WHAT TEENS NEED TO BE PREPARED TO OPEN AN OUTPOST IN A NEW CITY
(playing: Toby Mac)
warning: this is long- but it IS your comments!

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends. Thanks for the comments in response to my blog a fews days ago on this subject. Here is a smattering of them, along with my comments (sc):

First - Teens need one on one discipleship above all and intense Bible study. They need to be taught how to study the Bible on their own and what spiritual discipline means - how important it is and a model to whom they can look. I came out of High School very unaware of how to study God's word much less hear him and understand what it was saying. If you want them to start outposts - they've got to know His Word. 

sc- good point. It is incumbent upon those of us further down the road to disciple these teens, then. What are you using? We use ARRIVAL KIT, JOURNEY GUIDE, SALVATIONISM 101, 201 (there is some Bible study stuff in that), and 301. (401 is coming...)

Second - I think they need a better doctrines class than Corps Cadets and the soldiership class they get before becoming Senior Soldiers. 

sc- amen. We try to handle the subject in SALVATIONISM 101- we're actually overhauling the whole series this year and will try to beef some of it up...

Third - They have to know authentic community and be a part of it. 

sc- amen. Hard to find and difficult to cultivate. But it is not only the image of God, it is the future of mission.

Fourth - They need to know how to lead a small group and how to nurture it. 

sc- related the the third point. For us, this is THE transferable concept. We have a stacked corps at 614 Vancouver. We've got evangelists and prophets and shepherds and so on. Me and my LITTLE team heading out to a new outpost start won't be able to replicate all of that wisdom and experience and skill in exercising gifts. But we can make a few friends and strat a cell...

New Bloggee: support from our leaders...from THQ. i think in terms of
the youth dept. we've gone long enough just entertaining at youth councils
and not going deep...

sc- two point here, really. The THQ support depends on your THQ. But I don't know how much support you need. I mean, make some friends, start a cell... The second point is totally relevant here, since we're playing with training teens to go open outposts. To do that, we need to beef up youth councils!

NB: one word? support from our leaders. real support.

sc- sure. More Biblically, effectively spiritual covering by those in authority.

NB: what is it we as young people need to trained and
equipped so that when we finish high school we can go out and open an
outpost as u said...relationship. that word has come up again and again
lately, and in this case i think its a huge thing. growing up in the army
ive been preached at, preached at, preached at preached at and you guessed
it, preached at. but i've never had a relationship with someone who was
bulding me up, keeping me accountable, and not to preach at me. just to be
there to offer support, answers, prayer etc. "kids today" haha, we don't want
to be preached at. we can get enough of that at church, or from certain SA
leaders. so i realize that isnt "training" but if i had to say one
word...relationship.

sc- relationship. We're cultivating authentic Christian community. Similar.

NB: however when it comes to specific training, i would say bible teaching and
understanding (because i know for me growing up in the army i knew stuff all
about the bible) worship leading, (but how to lead worship in the context
your in, not how to lead worship like matt redman)how to teach the bible
(again in context) and incarnation. what it means to "move into the
neighbourhood".

sc- relates to comments above.

Here is another list:
1. do it in a community
the most blatant need for kids who are emerging (hopefully - In Jesus' name!) from a self destructive but necessary descent into immature and ungodly independance is to be adopted by awesome, function, healthy warriors for them to know interdependance (ala Gal. 6)

which probably translates as community - bring them into a tribe of warriors - a villiage of saints they dig into post nest.

sc- nice. TRIBE OF WARRIORS. That means, of course, that we need to deploy in groups as well...

1b. this is what I'm refering to, dependance - childhood, independance - adolesence, adulthood - interdependance)
Kids are looking for the people to trust to come out of their nest leaving independance trip into an adult like interdependance - Gal 6 - carry your own load but share your burdens!

sc- amen.

2. a focussed and purposeful work load...
i guess 80% of the adolescent nonsense I see is cured when they leave school and get a 9 - 5. why? who has time for that ridiculous introspection and personal creation when you're working and tired!

i'm not suggesting some cultish wearing down of people's resistance - just a workload that would've been common historically.

sc- haha- sign me up!

3. an alternative missional culture; a non media defined, non consumeristic reality of tribal war.
Kids desperately need an alternative to the whole image, consumer, popularity, status, money, sex and power... nightmare.

I can preach it till my tongue falls out but I'm the minority... Most parent unwittingly are raising their kids up for worldy success/distraction - not a covenented lifestyle and reality of war. For kids to be able to detox their heads hearts in this way would give us some legends...

sc- wow. This guy is writing from a war footing! God grant it!

4. experience rather than education.
we are obsessed with education - what we really lack is experience!
experience - emphasis on - but still coupled with education - ala apprenticing!
Kids need to, want to, be apprenticed...

sc- wow.

A couple:
Experience sharing their personal testimony and the good news together in a
trained way: with a friend, in front of people, in front of more people, for
5 min, ten min, 15 min, practice, practice,...

sc- alright. I guess in some situations public meetings are effective for people.

They need a passion for Scripture and to believe in Holiness and to have
received the second blessing.

sc- nice. Well, God grant that we all get that one down. I am trying to convince some of our students now away from a 'walking it out day-by-day' kind of holiness to Brenglian holiness (which includes the first kind).

old friend of mine:
And the answer really is: University education.

sc- I respectfully disagree. And I won't trot out century-old examples. I can trot out current ones. How about every general up to Burrows? How about Karl Rove (no degrees)? How about Mark Steyn (I linked to him in a very recent blog)? The examples are legion. Go to uni if God wants you to go. Otherwise, fight. (yes, you can fight on campus- I did).

we might play with these and other ideas to come up with 'formal' training for these guys, glutted, as they are, as mid-teens with professional and occupational and educational options...
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

DTES WOODWARDS and SFU
(from Globe and Mail)

Art school to take over closed department store

Vancouver -- Student dancers, musicians, filmmakers and painters will be taking up residency in the Woodward's redevelopment project, which aims to revive Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Last week, city council approved an agreement that will see Simon Fraser University's School for the Contemporary Arts occupy approximately 150,000 square feet in the new development by 2008. The agreement will allow the school to house all of its degree programs, currently based at its Burnaby campus, on the new site and expand its enrolment.

The century-old department store, closed since 1993, was purchased from the province by the City of Vancouver two years ago. Last September, the city council chose Westbank Projects to redevelop the site, which will include 200 units of social housing. The $250-million construction project is expected to begin in the fall of this year.
____
grace,
stephenc

February 14, 2005.
(playing- BOUNDLESS volume 1)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
My friend wrote a manifesto I hope to run in the next action. One of the lines expresses the desire for less talk and more miracles.
Amen, I say. And then I think that I write heaps of emails a day, this blog, articles, the odd book, and JAC every two months. I do a lot of talking.
I rationalise this by suggesting that it helps encourage, stimulate, teach, mobilise, and deploy warriors. But the bottom line is, I need WAY more miracles.
I will fight the recent mini-trend of taking time off of blogs, though. (see you tomorrow!)
More miracles for all of us!
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

losing the culture war...
I can't say near as well as this man did (http://www.suntimes.com/output/steyn/cst-edt-steyn13.html).
grace,
sec

February 13, 2005.
(playing- Soteria- I'LL FIGHT)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
WHO'S HALLUCINATING?

Time Magazine (Feburary 14 issue- sorry I could scare up the link) has an article on this travesty of the DTES (the free heroin in my neighbourhood).
I'd like to lift a few quotes for you and make some comments.
1. "4,700 needle users, probably th ehighest concentration of junkies in North America." One expert (another article) guessed at this number, saying that if it was 10,000 you'd see them shooting on the sidewalks. You do. He should make a visit.
2. $8.1 million to run. I strongly suspect that we could win the neighbourhood with $8.1 million in three years (614 Vancouver- we'd try something novel- trust Jesus).
3. our neighbourhood is described by TIME Mag as 'a 10-block grid of boarded-up real estate'. Maybe not for long, what with the Olympics promising to push out the locals, 'revitatlizing' the downtown eastside.
4. "The hope is that they will wean themselves off heroin altogether'. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA- you laugh so you don't cry at this ludicrous comment.
5. One renegade doctor: "It's almost palliative care." This is more discerning than TIME realises. This is actually the plan...
6. USA drug czar calls it, "state-sponsored suicide." WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID?
7. in response to those pointing to 'success' in Netherlands and Switzerland, oen expert argues, "The drug scene is different than ours. In Vancouver the scene is more concentrated, extreme, and many of the addicts are in worse condition."
Who's hallucinating?
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

'membership'

Joel's Warrior Blog (top right) engages Commissioner Needham's MEMBERSHIP article in JAC (top right) nicely (and practically).

You'll want to comment on his take...
grace
stephenc

February 12, 2005.
(playing- TransMission, I Know A Fount)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Erin Dabis's blog has a thing on our neighbourhood going on. So I thought I'd explain for everyone.

Yes, there is a needle exchange (free needles). Yes, there is a safe injection site (medically supervised drug injection 20 hours/day). Yes, there is, as of this week, free heroin. Here is the news release, mentioning one of my neighbours:
"Ann Livingston, program director of the Vancouver Area Network Drug Users (VANDU) stands outside a building at the corner of Abott and Hastings 06 February 2005 in Vancouver, BC, site of North America's first perscription-heroin clinic. Despite intense US opposition, the government-funded Canadian clinic will start prescribing free heroin to hard-core addicts after it opens 09 February 2005 on the doortep of the Canada-US border."

VANDU is subsidized by the government.

And, yes, we're against all of it.

And, yes, we're evidently failing tragically in our war for righteousness in the downtown eastside (the safe injection site and free heroin clinic having started since we arrived).

So, we covet your prayers for contagious holiness. Thanks.
grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

preparing for world conquest...

Hey- I don't know how many teens read this thing, but I know that many of you readers actually disciple teens.

Our question is this: What do you think teens need as far as training so that they are prepared, once they graduate from high school, to open an outpost in a new town?

This is a real-life question, the good answers to which will shape warfare in the coming years. So I welcome all good answers (info@thewarcollege.com).

Thanks
grace,
StephenC

JAG and SA
My friend wrote me about an episode of JAG- a tv show. In his words...

"A military shrink was being cross-examined and they were talking about combat fatigue/PTSD/combat stress, etc., and the difference between the previous wars that the US has fought (WWI, WWII, Vietnam...) and the current ones (Afghanistan and Iraq). The gist was that in previous wars, only about 10% of the forces actually saw combat. The rest were in supporting roles. But now, she said...

THE FRONT LINE IS EVERYWHERE.
____
and, so, for us.
grace,
stephenc

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing..."
Phillipians 2:3-5,7a

Christ made Himself NOTHING.

The KJV says in verse 7 that Christ made Himself 'of no reputation'.

Let's look into that. I shall eagerly reach for my dictionary:

reputation: the general estimation in which a person is held by the public; The state of being held in high esteem.
esteem:to regard with respect
respect: admiration, politeness rising from this respect
politeness: socially correct
refine: remove impurities or defects from; make elegant or cultured
cultured: develop understanding of litereature, art and music

This may all seem rather disconnected, but here is what I'm getting at.

Christ's example to us to to make Himself nothing, of no reputation in the eyes of the world:

Therefore
-He had no esteem in the public's eyes
-He was not regarded with 'respect'
-He was not held captive by 'social correctness' and politeness
-He did not receive the what the world deems refinement
-He was not made elegant or 'cultured' to sway the hearts of men

We are not called to be a socially correct, polite, publicly adored Army.
We must choose to leave our vainglorious pursuit of world estimation and turn instead to world domination for Christ's sake, through His example. Phillipians 2: 5-8

What do you choose?

Death and Glory,
Heather Wright

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing..."
Phillipians 2:3-5,7a

Christ made Himself NOTHING.

The KJV says in verse 7 that Christ made Himself 'of no reputation'.

Let's look into that. I shall eagerly reach for my dictionary:

reputation: the general estimation in which a person is held by the public; The state of being held in high esteem.
esteem:to regard with respect
respect: admiration, politeness rising from this respect
politeness: socially correct
refine: remove impurities or defects from; make elegant or cultured
cultured: develop understanding of litereature, art and music

This may all seem rather disconnected, but here is what I'm getting at.

Christ's example to us to to make Himself nothing, of no reputation in the eyes of the world:

Therefore
-He had no esteem in the public's eyes
-He was not regarded with 'respect'
-He was not held captive by 'social correctness' and politeness
-He did not receive the what the world deems refinement
-He was not made elegant or 'cultured' to sway the hearts of men

We are not called to be a socially correct, polite, publicly adored Army.
We must choose to leave our vainglorious pursuit of world estimation and turn instead to world domination for Christ's sake, through His example. Phillipians 2: 5-8

What do you choose?

Death and Glory,
Heather Wright

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing..."
Phillipians 2:3-5,7a

Christ made Himself NOTHING.

The KJV says in verse 7 that Christ made Himself 'of no reputation'.

Let's look into that. I shall eagerly reach for my dictionary:

reputation: the general estimation in which a person is held by the public; The state of being held in high esteem.
esteem:to regard with respect
respect: admiration, politeness rising from this respect
politeness: socially correct
refine: remove impurities or defects from; make elegant or cultured
cultured: develop understanding of litereature, art and music

This may all seem rather disconnected, but here is what I'm getting at.

Christ's example to us to to make Himself nothing, of no reputation in the eyes of the world:

Therefore
-He had no esteem in the public's eyes
-He was not regarded with 'respect'
-He was not held captive by 'social correctness' and politeness
-He did not receive the what the world deems refinement
-He was not made elegant or 'cultured' to sway the hearts of men

We are not called to be a socially correct, polite, publicly adored Army.
We must choose to leave our vainglorious pursuit of world estimation and turn instead to world domination for Christ's sake, through His example. Phillipians 2: 5-8

What do you choose?

Death and Glory,
Heather Wright

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing..."
Phillipians 2:3-5,7a

Christ made Himself NOTHING.

The KJV says in verse 7 that Christ made Himself 'of no reputation'.

Let's look into that. I shall eagerly reach for my dictionary:

reputation: the general estimation in which a person is held by the public; The state of being held in high esteem.
esteem:to regard with respect
respect: admiration, politeness rising from this respect
politeness: socially correct
refine: remove impurities or defects from; make elegant or cultured
cultured: develop understanding of litereature, art and music

This may all seem rather disconnected, but here is what I'm getting at.

Christ's example to us to to make Himself nothing, of no reputation in the eyes of the world:

Therefore
-He had no esteem in the public's eyes
-He was not regarded with 'respect'
-He was not held captive by 'social correctness' and politeness
-He did not receive the what the world deems refinement
-He was not made elegant or 'cultured' to sway the hearts of men

We are not called to be a socially correct, polite, publicly adored Army.
We must choose to leave our vainglorious pursuit of world estimation and turn instead to world domination for Christ's sake, through His example. Phillipians 2: 5-8

What do you choose?

Death and Glory,
Heather Wright

Catherine's Aggressive Christianity
Cory Harrison is updating some language and editing this warfare CLASSIC for Credo Press.

Here is a bit that stung me today:

"They took seriously the words of Jesus, ‘Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the message of God’s good news to one and to all,’ and again the same idea—’I’m sending you off.’ Look at what Jesus is saying here. I will go as far as to say that no one in the history of man has even gotten close to fathoming the meaning of these two commissions. I believe that we of The Salvation Army have come closer than any others. But we are straying. What? Do you think that these words from Jesus ever meant, ‘go and build chapels and churches and invite the people to come one or two days a week and if they don’t leave them alone?’ ‘YOU GO!’ Imagine you were running a business and asked a staff member to do something for you, something that required some meetings and paperwork and some travel and time, definitely hard work, something that was within their job description and contract with you. They are employed by you to do this business, and you commissioned them to go and do it. How would you feel if he just went to his office and said, ‘Maybe I will go out once or twice but I don’t want to bother these folks. I know, I will just wait here in my office and if they want our business they will come to us.’ He may be out of a job for not doing what you asked of him."

Ouch.
grace,
stephenc

"...and so with the early Christians, who went everywhere preaching the Word. They would not be kept out and could not be put down and could not be hindered or silenced. 'Those Christians are everywhere.' said one of their bitterest persecutors."
~Catherine Booth - Souls are Dying! Set Yourselves to Win Them

Back in the day, the Love of Jesus compelled the early Christians to preach the Risen Lord joyfully and without prompting, wherever they went.

How do I measure up to that? Do I feel like I am doing well here with my relational based ministry?
Am I sitting back with a contented smile, giving myself a pat on the back? It's true, that I know the names of many of the poor folk in our neighbourhood, and if not their names, at least I recognize their faces so that I can give a warm smile or familiar nod as we pass in the street. I'm doing far better than others who don't even bother to memorize faces at all.

I found these words, spoken by the Founder particularly fitting and rather exacting for someone who thought pretty highly of herself:

"I am glad that you are enjoying yourselves, the Salvationist is the friend of happiness making heaven on earth is our business. 'Serve the Lord with gladness' is one of our favourite mottos.
So I am pleased if you are pleased. But amidst all your joys don't forget the sons and daughters of misery.

Do you ever visit them?

Come away and let us make a call or two. Here is a home, six in a family bathe and drink and sleep and feed and die in the same chamber...Here are the unemployed wandering about seeking work and finding none...There are the daughters of shame diseased and wronged and ruined, traveling down the dark incline to an early grave. There are the children fighting in the guttters, going hungry to school, growing up to fill their parents places.

Brought it all on themselves do you say?

Perhaps so, but that does not excuse our assisting them!
You don't demand a certificate of virtue before you drag some drowning creature out of the water. Nor the assurance that a man has paid his rent before you deliver him from the burning building!

But what shall we do? Content ourselves by singing a hymn, offering a prayer or giving a little good advice?

NO! Ten thousand times NO!"
~William Booth

Wait a sec - that's what we do now...we content ourselves with singing hymns, or contemporary worship tunes or we 'point them in the right direction' to an appopriate Army centre or thrift store or foodline, or, the lukewarm response of a hand on the shoulder with the weak assurance of "I'll be praying for you. God bless you. So long."

Ten thousand times no.

This is what is expected of us:

"We will pray for them, feed them, reclaim them, employ them." WB

Employ them - is the Lord challenging you on that one?

"Perhaps we shall fail with many. Quite likely. Our business is to help them all the same, and that in the most practical, economical and Christlike manner." WB

The key here is the Christlike manner. We must be imitators of Christ, and for our example it is imperative that we look to the Scriptures. We must never look to another fellow's interpretation of Christ, but only to who the Word says He is, and what the Word says His character is, and then go forth, imbued with the Spirit of Christ.
For He HAS anointed us to preach Good News to the poor. We ARE meant to proclaim freedom for those held captive to sin and release from spiritual darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

"Be IMITATORS of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a LIFE of love, JUST as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

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

February 11, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

The new JAC (top right) has a document called MMCCXX. The more adventurous among you will want to check it out, pray about it, and then, just maybe, take the plunge.

The ball is already rolling on MMCCXX (it is 6 weeks old) but it is definitely very early enough to jump in.

I welcome comments (info@thewarcollege.com).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

"MARRIAGE"

If I was writing a letter to the editor, expressing my support for the traditional definition of marriage and my opposition to Bill C-38, I'd probably write something like this:

Dear editor:
I'd like to express my concern about the government's plan to change the definition of the word 'marriage'. We give the government many rights and responsibilities, but editing Oxford's dictionary is not one of them.

Dear editor:
How is it that 1.5% of Canadians can overthrow a Canadian tradition of marriage? It just doesn't seem right.

Dear editor:
I'm wondering why we are looking to Holland for social direction in Canada. In that country the minority have scared the majority from, in one current notorious case, wearing the national flag for fear of provoking certain immigrants. We've started down the Dutch road. But a U-turn can correct us. Certainly 2/3 of Canadians standing for a traditional definition of marriage is enough.

Dear editor:
I'm a Christian person, who believes, along with about 6.2985 billion of humans around the world, and along with everyone who ever set foot on the planet up to this century (21st), that marriage is a sole union between a man and woman. Let's not be ridiculous (and arrogant) and go about trying to change it.

Dear editor:
I am wondering if a minority government shouldn't be a little more humble and balance the budget, serve the people, and refrain from ripping a time-honoured element of civilization (that would be 'marriage') from its meaning.

Dear editor:
If Bill C-38 passes, does it mean that when we speak of gays "marrying" each other the politically correct way to describe it includes quotation marks?
grace
stephenc

Feburary 10, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

We've been really pressed to step up to the plate for righteousness in our society.

I've collected 16 addresses for letters to the editor in newspapers across Canada. Interested bloggees can email me for details (info@thewarcollege.com).

Oh, Michael Brown, in his revolutionary book, REVOLUTION, lambastes Christians for being 'discpled by the world'.

Ouch.
Much grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

New Blood....

We are so blessed to have some new blood in our midst (new person soaked in the blood of Jesus - incidentally a turn of phrase guaranteed to freak out non-believers) in the form of Darren Hailes from Oz. He will be taking on a lot of very cool stuff, and hopefully has a lot of energy.

A word on salvation and service...

Hebrews 13:12-13 says this (NKJV):

"Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach."

This is huge. The people outside the camp were those who were unclean, unacceptable, not allowed into the sacrifice. This is exactly where it says we should find Him and go forth to Him, bearing the same reproach he bears from the world. He is not inside the gates, where we find the clean, the religious, the acceptable.

I know this is not new, but it really struck me as profound after reading through the Pentateuch and seeing the terribly detailed restrictions on the sacrifice and on cleanliness. You did not, really did not, want to be outside the camp. Outside the camp was outside the blessing, outside the community, cut off (at least for a time). It was akin to death.

To be followers of Jesus, then, in order to identify with him, to participate in his salvation and Kingdom work, are to get outside the camp with Him. What are we doing hanging around inside the camp?!

The next little bit of Hebrews 13 talks about praising God with the fruit of our lips, but then says "but do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Service is an essential part of salvation. It is part of what salvation means - to serve others. To praise God is to serve. Maybe we should spend less time practicing the expression of praise off our lips (music, speaking, etc...) and more time practicing the expression of praise through doing good and sharing. Put togther a praise and worship team that meets every week for an hour or two to practice service and justice instead of music.

Saved to Serve.

Aaron

Feburary 9, 2005.
(playing- Nik and Emma Pears- people of faith)
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Old bloggees here will know about our discovery of godulike.com. Well, in a google search this morning I tripped over the site again and gave it a quick look.

It appears that our friends Jonathan Evans has left a footprint there (JE- can you confirm?).

Anyway, it was nice to see two of our sites included in the four that represent the Army to the world (according to gul- ttp://www.godulike.co.uk/faiths.php?chapter=87&subject=links).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court
comments- info@thewarcollege.com

Competitive Rugby Stream of The War College

The War College is pleased to announce the Competitive Rugby Stream of Vancouver campus, opening in September 2005, under the leadership of Michael Collins. Interested applicants should note their rugby qualifications in the regular application.
Rugby player and coach Michael Collins, also on The War College faculty, will be leading the new Competitive Rugby Stream (Vancouver War College) starting in September 2005. Qualified and accepted candidates will live in community in a new Burnaby campus, training physically there, and training spiritually with their HOLY TERROR session mates in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. They will be directly involved in the burgeoning Bible Thumpers Rugby Club ministry. For more information on this exciting new development, visit thewarcollege.com or contact info@thewarcollege.com.
____
grace,
sec

Feburary 8, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I just read, "there is 'No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy' than a U.S. Marine."

Can we steal that line, too?
grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

ROOTS TRINITY
For those of you planning to attend the latter legs of the international Roots trifecta (South, Canada, UK), you will want to immerse yourself in TRINITY stuff before you get there.
To that end, let me recommend Major Richard Munn's excellent Bible study in JAC (see top right), which he and his wife Janet presented at Roots South.
grace
stephenc

Super Bowl Commercials
For those of you outside North America, you won't get it, but many times the new commercials at the Super Bowl are better than the game itself (this year's game was yesterday).
Anyway, here is a regional commercial that aired to more than a million people around Portland that I encourage you to watch (http://gospelspots.com/ go to the 'insurance' commercial- 30 seconds).
It is classic. (yes, it is Christian)
grace
stephenc

February 7, 2005.
WHY?
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
My son, Zion (warrior!), is in a phase where he asks me, 'why?' in 20-round shots, about 20 times a day.
And, if memory serves me correctly (and speculation about future queries serves me correctly) every round ends up with the same answer:
God is love.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

FAMILY FULLNESS
If you fight in the western half of Canada or USA I'd recommend you pray about joining us for FAMILY FULLNESS, the expanded version of Major Janet Munn's prayer and fasting retreats (expanded to include the whole family). She'll be there. And so will heaps of other keen salvos, read to get hungry and get filled.
May 12-14 (at Camp Sunrise). Costs are lower than any other camp I can find there... (register at info@thewarcollege.com).
grace,
StephenC

BTI coming soon..
July 5-11 is this one-week leaders incarnational refresher course right here in the downtown eastside. Lot's are talking about it but beds are limited. Sign up at thewarcollege.com (under BTI).
grace
stephenc

MEMBERSHIP?
So have you read the paper by Commissioner Phil Needham on MEMBERSHIP in the new issue of JAC (address, top right)?
It is screaming out for discussion. You can start it by emailing me at info@thewarcollege.com
grace
stephenc

Unique Super Bowl Fact?

Hey- my buddy Peter and I have come up with what we think is both noteworthy and unique fact (but were not totally sure):

TB has produced the most SB- winning starting quarterbacks? (Johnson, Dilfer, Young, Williams)

Much grace,
stephenC

United Nations and Social Justice.
This is a great bit on this sad organisation (Clifford D. May, Scripps Howard News Service, February 3, 2005):
"Is the United Nations attempting self-parody? 

"How else to explain the announcement that a panel has been elected to decide which complaints will be heard by the UN Human Rights Commission at its annual meeting in Geneva this spring -- and that three of the five members are Cuba, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia? 
----
God help us.
grace,
StephenC

Most Influential Evangelicals?
Now, I know that I am an evangelical charismatic or a charismatic evangelical, or, more accurately, a primitive salvationist, but I was surprised that I know so few of the '25 Most Influential Evangelicals' (http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050207/photoessay/21.html).

I was disappointed that there are no salvos listed. There are a couple of Catholics. Cheers.

I may have to come up with a similar list, or a response to the list...
grace,
stephenc

MORE THINGS YOU"D NEVER SEE IN ORANGEVILLE!!!

(These things are surprisingly popular)

The other day our court houses in downtown Vancouver were bombed. Someone driving past threw in a couple of Molotov Cocktails (so named after a vicious Russian secret police chief much hated by the peasants and rebels who first concocted the home-made devices, but I digress).

Now, I'm fairly certain the courthouses in Orangeville would not get bombed in such a way. But this is not the really werid bit. I live a couple of blocks away from the courthouses here. I have friends who live a block away. And none of us heard about this event until much later.

I'm sure there were sirens and chaos and whatnot going on, but there is always sirens and chaos going on, so nobody took any notice.

Had this happened in Orangeville, the entire populace would have been hovering around the area, and then adjourning to the local Tim Hortons for a double double. Here, we don't have Tim Hortons, not really. We have Starbucks instead, so we can't really afford to go and chat about stuff like courthouse bombings over a cup of coffee, as each sip costs us roughly $1.83.

Grace,

Aaron

Feburary 6, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

CULTURE WAR?

I lifted this from THE CORNER (blog):
"Blogging away from that sad, threatened country The Dutch Reporter has the details of a small, but symbolically interesting, incident which shows how far things have gone:

"”Cals College in IJsselstein has prohibited two of its students to have Dutch flags on their bags. The 16 year old boy and his friend where told by the director of their school that they "urgently should consider" to remove the Dutch flags from their bags, it could provoke other students, mainly Moroccan students. The two considered the urgent request of the school as a prohibition.”
____
Let me get this straight. You're in Australia, but you can't wear an Australian flag because it might provoke immigrants.
Hmm.
I'm not trying to hit Holland when it is down. But Canada can learn a lot of lessons from Holland, if we'd only look. 'Culture' includes a lot of spiritual stuff most of us don't get. Every moral compromise and every religious abdication leaves us more vulnerable...
grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

February 5, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
STATS
Thanks to Susan Ramsay, who preached at Southmount this week, for these stats:

What matters it what ELSE SOLDIERS CAN DO IF THEY CANNOT FIGHT? - Booth
---
Religious trends from Statistics Canada:
      
"NOTAS" (our term for "None Of The Above") who report themselves as Agnostic, Atheist, Humanist or simply "no religion" represent the second largest religious group in the country.  

NOTAS are now the second largest religious grouping in Canada, being exceeded in numbers only by Roman Catholicism.
      
They amounted to fewer than 1% of the Canadian population prior to 1971. They increased in numbers by 44% over the decade 1991 to 2001.

---

StatsCan 1991-2001

Least attractive denomination in Canada, by the numbers, after the Presbyterians, is the Salvation Army! We dropped 22% in the number of people who identify themselves with the Salvation Army - that is a net loss of souls of 22%!
____
This happened on my watch. I am sorry. Grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Logo Contest
(now playing Lifehouse)
Hi- this is from our friends at BE A HERO- Stacey Campbell and Wesley Campbell...

Be A HERO needs a logo! We invite all you creative types to come up with a logo for us. The brochure design people tell us that it must be done in Adobe Illustrator, and for the final file to convert the fonts to outline, and save it as an EPS file. We would like a bold logo. We don't want anything 'cartoony' or 'folksy' and of course we would love 'original' and 'outside of the box'. For ideas of what we're involved in, visit our website at www.beahero.org. Although your logo design will be a gift to us, the winner will receive 10 'Praying the Bible' CD‚s, and an autographed copy of Wesley Campbell and Stephen Court's book 'Be A Hero: The Battle for Mercy and Social Justice'. Deadline for submissions is February 28, 2005. Please email your designs to info@beahero.org. Winner will be announced in a future newsletter.
____
grace,
sec

ENDURING INSTITUTIONS part 2
(playing Nik and Emma Pears, PEOPLE OF FAITH)

Here is the follow-up to my last blog.

"While culture and values necessary for endurance are readily apparent in all ten organizations, one, The Salvation Army, is iconic in its ability to motivate and inspire its workforce. The Salvation Army's skill is in creating the culture and expressing the values that make its own endurance possible. As an "army" it broadcasts this culture through simple but effective practices, such as the readily recognizable uniform it asks volunteers and workers to wear."

Nice. I know over at Joel's Warrior Blog (see top right) they are all frothy about uniform and bands and so on. Maybe they'd like to see this report on Enduring Institutions for an outside perspective on effectiveness... These experts figure that uniforms help the Army 'broadcast (our) culture'. I will add this to my (hat tip to Elaine G) 'sign of covenant community' argument.
Much grace,
StephenC

MOST ENDURING INSTITUTIONS

This exciting new project identified ten of the world's most Enduring Institutions over the past century (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041216/165437_1.html). "The list celebrates those institutions that have managed to reinvent themselves time and again - and remained market leaders - as the unique circumstances of their founding have given way to changing conditions."

Explained Dr. Ralph W. Shrader, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Booz Allen Hamilton, "An Enduring Institution is one that has changed and grown in unswerving pursuit of success and relevance -- yet remained true through time to its founding principles."

Here are the top ten:
Academic Institutions: Dartmouth College; Oxford University
sec- maybe in the next century they will include The War College.

Arts and Entertainment: The Modern Olympic Games; the Rolling Stones
sec- really? First up, how about the NHL (it is for the last century, not this one) and it's time-honoured Stanley Cup? And Rolling Stones? I'd replace with U2 if it had to be a music group.

Business and Commerce: General Electric; Sony
sec- tough to argue.

Government Institutions: American Constitution; International
Telecommunication Union
sec- especially tough to argue... (although I am sure I will get some 'guidance')

Nonprofit Organizations: The Salvation Army; the Rockefeller
Foundation
sec- this is the part where we go 'Yahoo!'

Now, stay with me on this. These are interesting criteria to apply to the ARMY:

"Each institution is recognized for its unique abilities to meet or exceed seven specific criteria for an Enduring Institution:
Innovative capabilities--The capacity to create and modify strategies based on market opportunities and threats.

sec- I am not sure what they were studying for the Army. Most of what we had in place by 1910 was still around in 1990: cubs and scouts (or in the States guards...), home league, corps cadets, junior soldiers classes, songsters, brass bands, training colleges, corps (for more of the century the colour of the faces was the only way to tell what part of the world you happened to be), league of mercy, etc. I think we must have been chosen despite our performance in this category. We're trying hard on our front in this respect.

Governance and leadership--A leadership structure and senior management team that promote an organization-wide commitment to enterprise resilience.

sec- we're strong on that- it is tough to find a more 'total institution' experience within the 'volunteer realm' (military is one). I hope that is happening on our small front.

Information flow--A continual flow of information regarding an organization's operations and markets that is evaluated by senior management in making strategic decisions.

sec- well, we send in monthly stats... We're pretty ruthless on our front with this...

Culture and values--A working environment in which the adaptive qualities required for enterprise resilience are cultivated.

sec- this is true on our front. Man, we have to go with the Spirit flow!

Adaptive response--The ability to withstand operational disruptions, market risks and other threats without significantly compromising an organization's effectiveness.

sec- praise the Lord.

Risk structure--A system for managing risk that doesn't encumber or limit an organization's operations.

sec- not sure exactly how that look for us and how well it works. But praise God.

Legitimacy - The undisputed, withstanding credibility of an organization within its market.

sec- agreed- Hallelujah! (although I wonder which market they think we're in!).
More soon...
Much grace,
sec

February 4, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friemds.
I guess my blog on training college stirred up a reaction. For example, my esteemed comrade (ec) from another territory thinks this way (my comments are sc):

ec- I see this reoccurring pattern…
· Person has ministry calling or inclination
· Approaches leader
· Leader responds with discipleship
· Person fails to enter into discipleship or the radical life change
it often requires
· Person then alternatively can completely short cut the discipleship
process at the local level by applying for training college

sc- this is the way it often is. It is incumbent upon candidates secretaries to draw the line, and keep such people out of training until they get discipled. That would solve this problem.

ec- The army loses out because
1, they haven’t experienced discipleship outside of college and therefore
struggle to practice it at the local level.
2, they ‘re now the boss!
3, those quality leaders who did subject themselves to discipleship satisfy
the call to mission without residential training - but end up working under
the leaders who didn’t!!?!

sc- all true.
1. possibly they can get discipled in CFOT.
2/3. this is what has to change. For example, we've got a legendary leader out in our parts who is a soldier (we don't make lieutenants barely at all in our territory) who helps lead a big SA unit. The current set-up is good. But if his COs get transferred it is likely that other officers will replace them, over him. And I think that is FAR, FAR from automatic. There aren't too many people I can think of who could fill that spot.

ec- I can appreciate that many people require the 2 years of spiritual
formation to be ready for ministry but I hardly think that this should be
the criterion by which we select senior leadership!

sc- This is the other side of the number 2/3 coin. In some territories they are making lieutenants like they are going out of style. In a decade, many of these will have experience and gifts to take senior leadership positions. That is when those spots need to be filled by non-CFOT leaders. So, all you DCs and cabinet types reading this, it is you people who will need to make the former lieutenants DCs and cabinet types and TCs. Don't forget.
grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

DEFENCE OF TRAINING COLLEGE
Look, not everyone loves the place, but think about it this way:

You are there two years. You have (in my day) 20 people in your session, 20 in the one ahead and 20 in the one behind. And you have 20 staffers. So that is 80. And they all will be leaders. So you get one year to influence all 80 and another year to influence 40 of them some more.

Other than being on staff, there aren't too many places in the world where you can have that potential impact on leaders in such a short time.

Think about it.
grace
stephenc

February 3, 2005.
"SPIRITUAL CONDUCTORS"

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

General Bramwell Booth writes, in ECHOES AND MEMORIES, about spiritual conductors:

"Certain Divine influences coming upon a crowd of people are specially attracted by those who might be described as spiritual conductors."

We have a few people like that in oru midst. What a blessing!

Corporately, we want to be a spiritual conductor for The Salvation Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

more on historic poverty...
Recognizing that not all the bloggees are from UK and Australia, here are some relevant sites for Canadian response:

www.makepovertyhistory.ca
www.oxfam.ca
Grace,
StephenC

In "The Founder Speaks Again," thats a book by the OG. Booth shares what he would do, if he could do it all over again. #1 is prayer. He says that he would pray more, without ceasing, in fact he says he would pray, "until he was having intercourse with heaven." I want it, I want to pray so hard that I'm having intercourse with heaven.

I pose that Satan's greatest sceme is to get us to stop praying. Wesley said that "God does nothing except in response to prevailing prayer." WOW !!! The scriptures say that "the prayers of a righteous [ARMY] are powerfull and effective." (James 5:16)

It was a long standing tradition that Salvationists all over the universe would pray everyday at noon for The Salvation Army and the General, just imagine the fuel for the fire we would have if the worlds third bigest army fought like that every day ... I'll leave you with some chat from Pearson. (OG Songbook 556)

O Thou God of every nation Bless our General, bless our leaders
We now for thy blessing call Bless our officers as well
Fit us for full consecration Bless our converts, bless our soldiers
Let the fire from heaven fall Speed the war 'ganst sin and hell
Bless or Army ! Bless our Army !
With thy power baptize us all. We will all thy goodness tell.

Amen

redefining marriage
Hi- I know I've been on about this for a couple of years now on this blog, but it has come to a head in Canada. For some reason, people want to change the definition of a word. I don't understand. I am in the mood to change the meanings of a few words, too, if they are successful. How about making one mean two, yes mean no, and The Salvation Army mean a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus? But that last one is for another blog.
Anyway, this is from today's New Zealand Herald:
Canadians launch gay bill campaign
03.02.05
The Canadian Government introduced its contentious same-sex marriage bill in Parliament yesterday, launching a bid to legalise gay marriage nationwide.
The legislation needs approval from 154 members of the House of Commons to pass. According to a survey by the Globe and Mail, 139 MPs said they would vote in favour to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
Another 118 MPs said they would vote against and 49 were undecided. If approved, Canada would join Belgium and the Netherlands as the only countries to embrace gay marriages.
____
That means 35 of the undecideds might be convinced to protect what Webster and Oxford fought so hard to codify, and not make marriage mean some else.
Much grace,
StephenC

February 2, 2005.
MAKING POVERTY HISTORY

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends. Yes, it is a little long, but it is important, and so I've lifted most of an article from the new SALVATIONIST online for you below. You can read the whole thing yourself at http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/en/Publications/salvationist/home.htm.

"THE SALVATION ARMY has joined the Make Poverty History campaign, which seeks to encourage the world’s ­richest countries to change trade rules and ­practice, cancel the debt of developing countries and deliver more and ­better aid where it’s needed.

‘Debt has been cancelled but the world’s poorest countries are still ­paying much the same to service their debt,’ Stephen Rand told The Baptist Times. ‘Some countries have increased their aid ­budgets but many haven’t; the World Trade Organisa­tion has promised action on the injustices and barriers to the ­benefits of world trade reaching the most impoverished nations. But talks are bogged down, and even limited agreement has proved elusive.’

In September 2000 all member states of the United Nations agreed to halve the proportion of people ­living in poverty by 2015 – a ­promise summed up as the Millennium Development Goals. ‘But the reality,’ Stephen ­comments, ‘is that the ­promises have been made and are not being kept.’

‘The Make Poverty History ­campaign is a great opportunity for Salvationists to speak out on a ­better deal for the world’s poor,’ says Territorial Public Affairs Officer Jonathan Lomax. ‘The Army has been involved in the church ­cam­­paign launch being held today and has been confirmed as a full mem­ber of the coalition. There will be lots of opportunities for ­people to get involved locally and nationally, and I’d challenge each corps to see what they can do to help with the campaign.’ Commissioner Shaw Clifton (TC) commented: ‘I am encouraged to see so many churches and denominations united in the fight against poverty. It is only right that the churches should be at the forefront of this ­initiative. I am pleased that the Salvation Army is playing its part.’
What are the Millennium Development Goals?
In September 2000 all the states of the UN made the pledge to
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary ­education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development

For more information check out the following sites: makepovertyhistory.org
tjm.org.uk
jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
micahchallenge.org

Much grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

The Salvation Army Justice Wing
Old readers of this blog will have heard about this brave group but newbies will need to find out. The Aussie Salvos are hard-core simple-living, social-justice warriors who started the Justice Wing about one year ago. Lot's has happened since and they've got big placs for the future. you may want to connect with their leader- aaronstickspetersen@yahoo.com.au. He just included a short list of some exciting things happening:

∑ The campers from the Victorian Creative Arts Camp rallied together and raised enough money to sponsor a childrenís home until next years camp.

∑ The UK & Ireland Territories have declared that all Headquarters, Corps, Centres and Soldiers have been encouraged by their Commissioner to buy fair-trade coffee and tea. For details look at http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/fairtrade

∑ Still in the UK, the youth sub-church ALOVE+ is having two simultaneous youth Councils that will focus on human traffic. For details look at http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove/engage_issues_human_traffik.asp

∑ The momentum behind the ëBe a Heroí campaign being fronted by Wesley Campbell and Stephen Court seems to be building momentum. With more awareness and more commitment from individuals, we can look forward to more transformation of our global society.

∑ Over 100 youth from across the Southern territory have signed up to sponsor a child since the Double Impact Congress in January 2004. How awesome.

Of course, this is one perspective only. We know of lots more excellent fighting going on, and applaud it all. Let's not sit on laurels though. Let's not rest easy just because someone else is doing something. Let's rise up!
grace,
sec

BE A HERO
General Eva Burrows has signed up as Champion of the BE A HERO world-wide campaign to mobilise 10,000 heroes to help change the world. We're psyched that she is on board to help us get the last 9,000.
We're looking for people like you to stand up and undertake five actions:
1. pray the Bible
2. sponsor a child (do a SA kid)
3. advocate on behalf of the marginalised
4. build a children's home (or invest in a children's project)
5. go on a hero holiday

It is simple. You don't have to give me any money (I don't want the hassle). Do it with your corps or division. You and your cell or you and your friends can actually transform people's lives. Think about it!
Then do it!
much grace,
StephenC

trendy
I know I've hit this over the years again and again but it sometimes bugs me that some Christians find it trendy to question doctrine.
It is fashionable to be uncertain about everything and wonder about basics of Christianity.

It is plain lame.

Look, none of the people I've met are in the same class as the big names throughout history who have hammered out orthodoxy. Among other things this suggests that their meanderings are neither new nor novel. Nor are they legit.

Also, it doesn't help the war. You, intellectually bumbling around, not sure of half of our doctrines, doesn't help anyone in his or her faith.

I suspect (and this is probably too hard a charge for a few of those so guilty) that spiritual inferiority is the cause.

In case you are keeping a tally, here are some of the problems we can blame on this tactic of the enemy, this spiritual inferiority:
1. ordination (bad theology, at the least, and terrible practically at best, in that it perpetuates the evil clergy laity split)
2. infatuation with credentials (God forgive our territory for it)
3. disdain for charismatics (how many souls will go to hell from watching our brutal relationships with brothers and sisters of whom we are embarassed or envious or...?)
4. and now, doctrinal flaccidity (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=flaccidity doesn't offer what MS does- limp).

Here's an idea: buy the 11. Fight the war. Ask Jesus to sort it out in heaven.
grace,
stephenc

Sickness Cannot Stop the War...

First off, let me give a hearty recommendation to all and sundry to check out my good buddy John Evans Blog as often as possible. He's got some good stuff on there right now concerning child abuse, and he is also unfailingly honest about his own struggles and God's way of dealing with them.

He also has almost Simian-like long arms.

Yesterday I was wretchedly ill. Gargling phlegm all night, that kind of thing. It turns out that a lot of us were sick yesterday as well, making it difficult to staff some of the kids' stuff we are doing. I was pretty close to cancelling our regular outreach into one of the local schools, but then the wonderful and talented Heather Wright said she would assign some of her crew to help us out.

Very awesome, because we had our biggest turn out ever. This is doubly awesome, because we are only just now allowed to start talking with the kids about Jesus, seeing as we have our own facility and don't have to meet strictly in the school gym. This means that the kids (and ten of their parents as well!) are digging what we are doing and saying. I have even heard reports that some salvation stuff was going on with some of the older kids. I'll let you know more when I hear it.

Sickness, even though it wiped out more than half of our kids team, couldn't stop the war from proceeding, and indeed thriving.

Yeeeeeehaw! (to quote the Duke brothers)

Grace,

Aaron

February 1, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Let me invite you to visit the brand new issue (#35) of Journal of Aggressive Christianity today (see top right for address). We're pretty psyched about this issue which is chock-full of big names and big ideas. Enjoy.
Grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Legalizing Prostitution in Canada?
Don't be an idiot. Lisa Thomspon, SA expert on human trafficking, emphasizes that people are not prostitutes but prostituted persons.
But hey, don't take a good argument for it. Just look at Europe. Read this. I know it makes for a long blog, but it will blow you away (hat tip to Jim for the intel):

'If you don't take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits'
By Clare Chapman
(Filed: 30/01/2005)
A 25-year-old waitress who turned down a job providing "sexual services'' at a brothel in Berlin faces possible cuts to her unemployment benefit under laws introduced this year.
Prostitution was legalised in Germany just over two years ago and brothel owners – who must pay tax and employee health insurance – were granted access to official databases of jobseekers.
Under Germany's welfare reforms, any woman under 55 who has been out of work for more than a year can be forced to take an available job – including in the sex industry – or lose her unemployment benefit. Last month German unemployment rose for the 11th consecutive month to 4.5 million, taking the number out of work to its highest since reunification in 1990.
The government had considered making brothels an exception on moral grounds, but decided that it would be too difficult to distinguish them from bars. As a result, job centres must treat employers looking for a prostitute in the same way as those looking for a dental nurse.
"There is now nothing in the law to stop women from being sent into the sex industry," said Merchthild Garweg, a lawyer from Hamburg who specialises in such cases. "The new regulations say that working in the sex industry is not immoral any more, and so jobs cannot be turned down without a risk to benefits."
Miss Garweg said that women who had worked in call centres had been offered jobs on telephone sex lines. At one job centre in the city of Gotha, a 23-year-old woman was told that she had to attend an interview as a "nude model", and should report back on the meeting.
Prostitution was legalised in Germany in 2002 because the government believed that this would help to combat trafficking in women and cut links to organised crime.
Miss Garweg believes that pressure on job centres to meet employment targets will soon result in them using their powers to cut the benefits of women who refuse jobs providing sexual services.
"They are already prepared to push women into jobs related to sexual services, but which don't count as prostitution,'' she said.
"Now that prostitution is no longer considered by the law to be immoral, there is really nothing but the goodwill of the job centres to stop them from pushing women into jobs they don't want to do."
____
Canada has to decide what to do on this issue. All we really need to do is look at Germany, grimace (or go to war?) and shake the idiocy out of our heads.
Much grace,
StephenC

Januray 31, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I'd like to plug the new SALVATIONIST again, this time because they've written a nice review of PROVERBIAL LEADERSHIP (and, the describe the writing of one of the authors as 'the uppercase ENERGY of a young firebrand'!). :- )
Surely, access the review, but more importantly, read the book (available, not coincidently, at our eStore).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court