Armybarmy Blog

The ten commandments in the USA

HI- here is a bit of argument in favour of the ten commandments (warning- it is very crude and that fact alone makes the argument stronger): http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/welcome.cgi

grace,
stephenc

"The question is not, shall I repent? For that is beyond a doubt. But the question is shall I repent now, when it may reform and save me; or shall I put it off to the eternal world when my repentance will be my punishment, and can answer no end but to torment me ?" Samuel Davies 1750 A.D.



What more could I add? Lets preach it !

June 29, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Here is installment 13 or so from the imprecatory psalms of the Salvo Warfare Version to aid in your praying the Bible out loud to God:

Psalms 58: 1 - 11

Justice – you’re tight-lipped as soon as we start talking ‘justice’. Are your judgements above board? No, you’re crooks. You dole out violence like cards. You’re born wicked. Spewed out of the womb on your lying way to who knows where, you’re spewing poison like an angry snake. You’re like a deaf cobra blocking its ears so that the dulcet tones of the charmers are left unheeded.

Smash their fangs, God! Shatter the jaws of these young lions, Yahweh! Pour them down the drain like water. Let their weapons be empty when they take aim. Make them snails melting into slime, stillborn children who never see the light of day. God, Unleash Your burning wrath on them like a whirlwind, blasting them away faster than a pot heats over fire. We’re thrilled to see You wreak vengeance. We’ll soak our feet in fiendish blood. 

Then spectators will conclude, “God rewards the righteous. God, indeed, judges the earth. (copyright Salvation Army- use and credit)
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grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

odds and blogs...

So Canada becomes the third country to legalize gay 'marriage'. For you non-Canadians, I assure you there is a lot of good things about Canada.

I read some good stuff in blogs... Xander testifies to sanctification. Hallelujah (top right). Tara testifies to a fear of the Lord encounter. Hallelujah (top right). Linsey testifies to some make-up evangelism. And more.

Read on.

Grace,
StephenC

June 28, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Here is installment 12 (?) of imprecatory psalms from the Salvo Warfare Version:

Psalm 5: 1 - 12

Yahweh, hear my prayers; listen to my meditations. Respond to my cries for help, King and God. You’re the only object of my prayers. 

You are not a god who delights in depravity. You will not tolerate the smallest sin. So proud people cannot stand in Your presence. You hate the vile. You destroy liars. Yahweh, You abhor bloodthirsty and duplicitous people. 

But because of Your invincible love, I enter Your house. In reverent fear I worship in Your Temple. Unless You lead me down the righteous path my enemies will devour me. Show me clearly the way to go. 

Faithfulness is foreign to them. Destruction is their deepest desire. They spout stench as from an open tomb. Their lips flout with foul flattery. God, pronounce them guilty. Let their own defence prove their downfall. Cast them out in the company of their transgressions. 

But download joy into the hearts of those refuging in You. Let their joyful praises ring forever. Defend them, so that everyone who loves Your name, Yahweh, will find endless in joy in You. You bless the godly, Yahweh, surrounding us with a shield of favour.  (copyright Salvation Army - use and credit)
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grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

June 27, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

More imprecatory psalms to hel your praying the Bible (11?) from the Salvo Warfare Version:
Psalm 6: 1 - 10

Yahweh, please withhold Your anger from me; please spare me from Your hot displeasure. Yahweh, compassion me, for I am weak. Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are aching. I’ve got an agitated soul. Yahweh, how long?

Oh, Yahweh, come and rescue me. Save me because of Your invincible love. Death isn’t crammed with praise for You. The graves aren’t shouting Your praise. 

I’m wasted from weeping. I swim through the nights of sobbing. My bed is drenched.

Grief blurs my vision. And I can’t stand the sight of evil around me.

Get lost, depraved. Yahweh has heard my tears and crying. Yahweh has heard my entreaty. Yahweh will answer my prayers. You’d better be horrified at your imminent humiliation. Shame is right around the corner. (copyright Salvation Army- use and credit)
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much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

June 26, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Here is part 10 or so in the imprecatory psalms of Salvo Warfare Version:

Psalm 11: 1 - 7

I rely on You, Yahweh. They can’t scare me away to the mountains. The vile string their bows and load their weapons, aiming to surprise the righteous people with a deadly attack. Law and Order is only a television show. It no longer exists in our land. What can righteous people do about it?

Yahweh, You are in Your holy Temple. You, Yahweh, rule in heaven. You have your eye on things down here. You test each of us. And You hate those who love violence. You rain coals on the vile. You pour fire and brimstone and scorching winds on them. 

For You, Yahweh, are righteous. You love justice. And You approve of the upright.  (copyright Salvation Army- use, just credit).
----
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

expansion watch...
It is nice to keep an eye on where we're headed ('we' meaning some group that buys in). Mark Steyn (styenonline.com) made this interesting point to those fawning over the 'asian century':

"If a blogger attempts to use the words "freedom" or "democracy" or "Taiwan independence" on Microsoft's new Chinese internet portal, he gets the message: "This item contains forbidden speech. Please delete the forbidden speech." How pathetic is that? Not just for the Microsoft-spined Corporation, which should be ashamed of itself, but for the Chinese government, which pretends to be a world power but is terrified of words."
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There's obviously still a fair bit of praying to do.
grace
stephenc

more today...
ALL I HAVE is a remake of an old song by Joshua Ivany. It is the demo of the week at armybarmy.com. Enjoy it now, or save up to purchase the album, SOUNDS OF THE REVOLUTION, that is currently being mixed in LA (this track is not mixed yet).

Also, you may have heard the stir about AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY, the reworking of Catherine Booth's masterpiece by Cory Harrison. Word is that it sold out its first print run of thousands in a week. You can get yours (limited supply) at the eStore of armybarmy.com. Basically, you're reading Catherine speaking in our idiom. It is worth the investment.

But keep saving, because there is a lot more coming down the pipe (including the books Chaotic Order, Revolution, revised Visions, updates SA101, 201, 301, SA401, SA501, revised Helps to Holiness, Incendiary, Warfare Prayers, Children's Prayers; and the CDs General's Choice, Fullness, Boundless volume 2, etc.).

grace
stephenc

June 25, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Here is another imprecatory psalm of Salvo Warfare Version (9?):

Psalm 12: 1 - 8

Yahweh, help! We’re running shy on godly people. It seems like faithful people are vanishing from the public square. Neighbours gossip, deceitfully buttering each other up. Yahweh, cut short their flattery and cut off their flattering tongues. 

They brag, “These are our lips. These are our tongues. They will say whatever we want. What are You going to do about it?” 

Yahweh, reply: “I see what you do, the evil you perpetrate against the fragile. I hear the impact, the groaning your cruelty elicits from the oppressed. Look out. Here I come to quench their thirst for relief.”

Yahweh, You speak pure, perfectly refined words. That’s why we know, Yahweh, that You will protect and preserve these victims from a depraved generation, even those the vile strut around like peacocks and cruelty is celebrated throughout our society. (copyright Salvation Army- use, just credit)
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grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

June 24, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Another imprecatory psalm from the Salvo Warfare Version (8?) to help you pray out loud to God 15 minutes a day:

Psalm 37: 1 - 40

I don’t lose sleep over the iniquitous. I don't envy the wicked. Grass gets cut slower than they will. Spring flowers wither slower than they will. I trust You, Yahweh. And I do good things. I will prosper in the safety of the land. I delight in You, Yahweh, and You fulfill my heart’s desires. I commit every initiative to You, Yahweh. I trust You. You will help me. You make my innocence as clear as the morning. You make the justice of my cause as bright as the afternoon sun.

I sit still here in Your presence, Yahweh. I wait patiently for You to act. I don’t fret over wretched schemes of evil people. I am at peace- no stress or envy here. The wicked are history. The rest of us inherit Your land, Yahweh. Soon I won’t even be able to find the wicked. But the humble inherit the earth, relishing the delicious peace.

Evil people plot against just people. They snarl at us defiantly. Lord, You just laugh, because You can see their imminent demise. Fiends draw their swords and bend their bows and take aim at the fragile and marginalized, intending to slay righteous people. But their bows will be smashed and their swords will be reversed to stab their hearts through. For simple righteousness is better than prosperous depravity. Cruel arms will be shattered while Yahweh, You, Yourself will uphold the just. Yahweh, You look into the daily ups and downs of the righteous. And they get an inheritance that lasts forever! They survive tough times, eating even during famines. But Yahweh, Your enemies will perish and vanish.

I patiently wait for You, Yahweh. I obediently follow You. I know that You will honour me and bless me with the land. I will see the fiendish annihilated

I’ve seen it myself. Cruel and yet powerful people rule like they are blessed. But next thing you know- they’re history. You can’t find them with a search party. 

Instead, I keep an eye on the blameless man. I observe the upright woman. I know that they’re laying the foundation for a future of peace.

But the depraved are history - they have no future. Yahweh, You save righteous people. You are a redoubt against the enemy in perilous times. Yahweh, You rally around us, rescuing us from the fiends. You save us and we shelter in You. (copyright Salvation Army- use, just credit)
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grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

characterisations.
Hi- isn't interesting how some people draw conclusions about things based on one piece of a puzzle? I've done it. Maybe you have, too. I hear that someone is theologically liberal or that someone is an adulterer or a Jets fan or something and I used to set up this preconceived notion of who he or she is.

That quiz I blogged this week probably blows a few notions out the window (about freakoid charis). Of course, it might provoke others (hardline fundamentalist!). :- ) I guess you can't win.

I don't care for myself, as I've experienced it for a long time and have thick skin.

But for others I know, I'd like for them to be defined instead by who they like. It isn't interesting to me who dislikes them or who they dislike. I want to see who they want to get along with. How's that for a new measure?
grace,
sec

more covenant...

Jonathan and Carla Evans's blog has a nice thread in the comments of one of the covenant posts (top right). Look particularly to comment 16 by Lana Rosen.
Grace
sec

June 23, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Another imprecatory psalm from Salvo Warfare Version (7?):

Psalm 35: 1 - 28
Yahweh, oppose those who oppose me. Yahweh, fight those who fight me. Arm Yourself for war. Prepare for battle; come to my aid. Draw your spear and stop my pursuers. I long to hear the words, "I am your salvation!" Humiliate and disgrace those looking to kill me; force them to retreat in confusion. Angel of Yahweh, blow them away like lint on a polyester suit. Angel of Yahweh, chase them onto slippery ice. They’ve set a trap for an innocent person. They’ve dup a pit for an innocent person. Let destruction pounce on them! Catch them in their own snares! Ruin them in their own pit. And my soul will be joyous in You, Yahweh. I will revel in Your salvation. I will lavish You with heart-felt praise: "Yahweh, who compares with You? Who else rescues helpless and hopeless people from the strong? Who else protects fragile and marginalized people from plunderers?”

Their joy is in my sorrow. They celebrate their secret mobilization against me. These strangers won’t stop shredding my piece of mind and reputation. They snarl profanity at me from the safety of their carousing revelries.

Lord, how long are You going to stay on the sidelines, watching? Rescue me from these fierce attacks. Spare my life from these lions.

Then, crowds will gather to hear me heap grateful praise at Your feet.

No gloating for my enemies over my defeat. No partying for my treacherous opponents over my sorrow. Not only are they ignorant of the vocabulary of peace; they mobilize against its proponents. They feign my wrongdoing. “We’ve caught you with your pants down,” they shout. Yahweh, You are not surprised by this. But don’t be silent either. Don’t be aloof. Stir Yourself! Rise to vindicate me! God, fight my case, my Lord. Yahweh, prove my innocence, for You, God, are just and mete out justice. Don’t let them rejoice at my expense. Don't let them gloat. Don’t even allow them the anticipatory smirk of victory over me. Humiliate and disgrace them. Shame the ‘triumphant’.

Comfort each who stands with me. Let us shout for joy and extol You always: You are magnificent, Yahweh! You delight to help Your servant.” And people won’t stop hearing me brag about Your justice and righteousness, even as I keep praising You. (copyright The Salvation Army- use, just credit)
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grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

silver anniversary... (of EB in USA)- TIME:
Jun. 2, 1930
Evangeline Cory Booth, Commander of the Salvation Army in the U. S., passed some of the brightest days of her life last week. She led some 4,000 Army men and women assembled in Manhattan through the climax of celebrating two jubilees—the golden anniversary of the Army's 1880 "invasion" of the U. S. (TIME, March 24) and the silver anniversary of her taking command in the U. S. (1904). Herbert Hoover sent her greetings. Lou Henry Hoover sent an armful of roses. Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt of New York regretted that he could not attend the celebrations but his wife presided at one of the meetings. Mrs. Coolidge sent a telegram. So did Viscountess Astor of England and Mrs. Ruth Hanna McCormick of Illinois. Henry Waters Taft, head of the Army's New York City Advisory Board, helped Commander Booth dedicate a new building in Manhattan, the Centennial Memorial Temple, costing $2,500,000. Financial Broadway cast ticker tape on a parade of Salvationists. John Philip Sousa composed a march and led massed Army bands playing it. Not since the late King Edward VII invited her father, the late William Booth, Methodist founder of the Salvation Army, to his coronation (1902) and thereby made street-corner soul-saving a socially commendable labor, has a time been so happy for Miss Booth.

Next Christmas she will be 65. Last week she looked her age. She wept at the dedication of the Memorial Building, recalling events of 50 years ago when she was helping her father set the Army going in England. Hoodlums, hecklers and police would break up their street meetings. To be among the lowliest poor, she lived in filthy tenements. Her clothes were ragged.

She earned money as a flower girl and match-seller. She would clout fighting drunkards apart, would take stray babies to her own bed.

She has many just prides—that she is neither an ascetic nor recluse,* that her U. S. Army is wealthy in property and deeds. Meticulously she keeps tab of her U. S. work. Last year it totaled: 1,735 corps, 4,814 salaried officers, 24,881 unpaid local officers, 124 industrial institutions, 35 maternity homes and hospitals, 10 children's homes.

Such accomplishments she meant when, in vigorous exhortation, she cried: "We've arrived at last! Such a journey we've had! . . . The Salvation Army is now an empire without frontier. But our work is not finished. March on until Paganism has burned its last idol and Mohammedanism has renounced its false prophet and Christianity prevails everywhere."

* Excerpt from a biographical sketch (by The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography): "She has pronounced athletic tastes, is an accomplished horsewoman, swims and dives as another diversion, plays the harp, and is devoted to animals and birds. She is withal a poet and composer. . . ."
____
Look at how much The Army has shrunk in 75 years in America: 1,329 corps; 3,542 active officers; 85,570 soldiers (compared with 24,881 LOs!). The fight is hard- we have a lot to do.
grace
stephenc

'annual victories over Sin'
Time in 1924 records that The Army saw between 225,000 and 275,000 conversions annually.
Hallelujah.
grace,
sec

Bramwell's nickname...

*Tradesmen in the neighborhood of the Southwold cottage stated that General Booth assumes the name "Bernard" when retiring there for rest. When Salvation Army members visit him they take off their uniforms, appear in plain street clothes.
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grace
sec

stirring the pot
(Time):
Mar. 11, 1929
George Bernard Shaw once wrote a play (Major Barbara) about the Salvation Army. The heroine loses a fight, leaves the Army. Lately, in real life, a Salvation Army heroine, Commander Evangeline Booth of the Army's U. S. division won one fight and lost another. She succeeded in getting her aged, sick brother. Bramwell Booth, deposed as General of the Army. She did not succeed in getting herself elected to succeed him.

Last week the question suddenly loomed: Will Commander Evangeline leave the Army? She sailed last week for the U. S. She carried with her the rancor of her brother, whom she had not once seen during the fight about his office, and whose wife had written to her: "For the time being you have attained your end. Will you not now leave him in peace?"

Commander Evangeline seemed reconciled to the new General, Commander Edward John Higgins, until just before she boarded her steamer. Then she abruptly announced: "The U. S. branch of the Salvation Army is not satisfied with the governmental reforms promised by the new General. Absolute control over territorial commands now exercised by international headquarters in London is cause of the greatest resentment on the part of Americans. The American branch wants to lessen that control and decentralize the Government.

"We are an international army, not especially British. If the idea prevails that one nation dominates, that is the rock on which we may split."
____
grace
sec

SA fashion...
From Coutts (Time 1963):
The new General aims "to do the job we've always done, but better and more efficiently." He has no intention of dispersing the Army's hard-puffing brass bands, or of pleasing younger officers by adopting a slightly more chic uniform: "I think the lassies never look prettier than when they're wearing their bonnets."
____
grace
sec

historic moment (TIme)

Feb. 3, 1930
A flame starting thin and blue at the corner of a sealed envelope, then spurting up yellow, crawling to the other corners, leaving a big curly cinder, transfixed the attention and curiosity of three high officials of the Salvation Army in a London barrister's office last week. The envelope was the one in which, last year, the late General William Bramwell Booth enclosed the name of the person whom he had chosen to succeed him as worldwide commander of the Army. None dared open the envelope for the dissension it might cause. Some think he named his daughter Catherine, but, as Lawyer Gavin Simmonds declared just prior to last week's burning: "People may guess, may hope and fear, but they cannot know."
____
grace
sec

Or is this the real EB?

(again, from TIME):

Dec. 17, 1934
Later when 10,000 Salvationists gathered to greet their General (EB) in London's Albert Hall, not only were Niece Catherine and Sister-in-law Florence on the platform but also Commissioner Henry Mapp, who had been Evangeline Booth's chief rival for the generalship. Frail and well-meaning U. S. Ambassador Robert Worth Bingham, who saves his strength for just such an occasion, throbbed at Miss Booth: "She, her father and her family come from that rare and precious stuff of which saints and martyrs have been made. England has given much to my country. . . . But I doubt if they've ever given us a greater gift than in giving us this great woman, this great leader. Now with gratitude we give her back to you." Replied Miss Booth: "He gave me away in a masterly manner. That was the nearest thing to a wedding ceremony I've ever heard—or ever will. I'm coming back home the same girl I was when I left. I've even kept the same name, and I hope you appreciate it."
____
wow. The greatest gift of England to USA was EB? And it is suggestive of the covenant debate raging at Jonathan and Carla Evans's blog...
grace
stephenc

more SA juice from Time

Sep. 10, 1934
The world-wide Salvation Army last week ended a five-year interregnum. Its high officers refused to have continued truck with promoted grand viziers. By Booths they had been trained, and a Booth they would again have on the most autocratic throne of charity on earth. Enthroned was Evangeline Cory Booth, 69, who has been Commander of the Salvation Army in the U. S. for 30 years. She is the adoring seventh child and fourth daughter of its founder, General No. 1, William Booth, the critical sister of General No. 2, William Bramwell Booth, the implacable foe of General No. 3, Edward John Higgins, who in 1929 succeeded in breaking the reign of the Booth dynasty.
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cynical! The Salvation Army- the most autocratic throne of charity on earth? And here I thought is was a revolutionary movement of covenanted warriors exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus.
grace
stephenc

more Time intel...

There is heaps of stuff on The Army in old Time Mags. Here is a bit out of order...

on the first high council...
Some said that Evangeline Booth became General Booth by presenting a mysterious letter by which her Founder-Father willed her his throne. Others said that she presented persuasive plans to revive the rich, lagging Salvation Army. But the commissioners insisted that Miss Booth could thank "divine guidance" for her elevation. Then, echoing the sweet sentiments she first used as an appealing 17-year-old in the London slums, the new world head of the Salvation Army declared: "We get compensation in rescuing poor beaten people in the name of God. We give them, first, food and drink. There is no use talking of the Spirit to a man with an empty stomach. And then we try to find them work, anything—piling up sticks, doing this or that little thing, to restore their self-respect."
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- a rich and lagging Army?

grace
sec

I've come across an excelent source of SA juice. Here is part of an article from Sep. 3, 1923 (Time Magazine):
On the Carpet. Captain Mildred Olsen, of the Salvation Army, received a summons to appear before Commander Evangeline Booth, at Lake George, N. Y., and explain her conduct in bobbing her hair. Captain Olsen is 25, an expert swimmer and diver. Commander Booth's niece, Mary Booth, had her hair bobbed in France during the period of her War work. She was condemned by General Bramwell Booth to stay away from the front until her hair grew long again. Will the decision of the Commander differ from that of the General?
____
I've found no report of the resolution of this issue!
grace
stephenc

June 22, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Here is an imprecatory psalm, Salvo Warfare Version (6):

Psalm 56: 1 - 13

God, pour mercy on me. The enemy troops are swallowing me up. My foes hound me all day long. My slanderers hack at me constantly, and I can’t even count all my vicious attackers. I am afraid but I am trusting You. God, I praise Your word. I trust You, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

They twist my words; they plot against my health. Groups of them spy out every step I take, looking to pounce on my very life. Don’t let them off the hook, God. Ground them to dust.

You recall each of my disappointments. You’ve got a bottle full of my tears. You tally them up in Your book. My call for help to You is a command to retreat for them, because they know as well I do that You are on my side! God, I praise Your word. Yahweh, I praise Your word.

I trust in You, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will keep my covenant with You, God, as I render praises to Your name. You rescued my soul from death; You keep my feet from stumbling. So I walk in Your presence, God, in the light of the living. (copyright The Salvation Army- use, just credit).
grace
stephenc

an old letter from a former TC...

My Dear Salvationist-Comrade:
My hearr it burdened with the sins and the needs of the people, and my spirit is troubled because of the evident inability in so many Corps to bring men and women to Christ.

What is the great need of The Salvation Army in Canada?... I am convinced that the once ned indispensible for this hour is A BURNING PASSION FOR THE SOULS OF MEN. Where is the concern for souls, the heart-break over the LOST, the soul-burden, the enerprise and zeal for soul-hunting that characterized the Soul-winning Salvationist of earlier days? Where is our DRIVE to reach the masses of unsaved with the Gospel?...

My comrades... I (was) BORN IN THE FIRE, and cannot be content with a few smouldering ashes! We are burdened for REVIVAL. We are jealous for The Army, and we are DESPERATE to save the souls of men...

Saturdate your mind and soul with the whole. Give yourself completely to the task before us... Yours with a burning passion...
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grace
sec

June 21, 2005.

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Salvo Warfare Version (5):
Psalms 54: 1 - 7
God, show up with the Big Guns- rescue me! Vindicate me with all of Your strength. O God, listen to my entreaties. Hear my prayers. Oppressors I don’t even know are out to get me. They don’t care about You, either.

But God, You are here to help. You are here to keep me alive. Thwart the vicious plans of the enemies. Cut them down by Your truth. I choose to sacrifice to You; I praise the name ‘Yahweh’, O Yahweh, for it is a blessed sound. You have delivered me from every trouble, and You help me triumph over every enemy. (copyright The Salvation Army- use but just give credit)
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grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

theological worldviews...
Gordon Cotterill started something off (see his blog top right). After reading Phil Laeger I figured I'd take the plunge. The only problem is that I don't know how to post the fancy results and will have to share some numbers and commentary, as well as comparison with my wife, Danielle.

We're both tops in Evangelical holiness/Wesleyan. I am a true Wesleyan, scoring 96%. Danielle comes in at 86%. My next highest is fundamentalist (71%) and Danielle is emergent/postmodern (64%). Then she follows with neo-orthodox and then charismatic and I have those split with emergent/postmodern (quizfarm.com). Those who fear any charismatic inclinations can rest assured that, at least by this quiz, we are more neo-orthodox than chari, more emergent than chari, much more evangelical/Wesleyan than chari, and that I am more fundamentalist than chari. In fact, Danielle is nearly as reformed as charismatic, and I am nearly as classical liberal!

The rest is lower. Now, a quiz is obviously limited and we'd probably both describe ourselves differently. But there was no line for primitive salvo.
grace
stephenc

demo of the week...
There is a new one up, and I recommend a listen (armybarmy.com homepage). Good stuff. There is an album coming out in about 6 weeks called SOUNDS OF THE REVOLUTION featuring the west coast retro-prophets. These are a collection of Salvos digging the old wells of SA lyrics, pumping out low-cost music in line with the simplicity to which we're called to stimulated the global salvation warfare to which we're committed.

More details to follow.
grace
stephenc

basketball finals

No, I am not on about game 5 of the finals last night. What I observed is that a bunch of us (15 +) were squeezed into our friends' home to watch it and that they are the only ones in our corps that have cable (that I know of).
Nice. We're looking for simplicity- I know it is just a North American version, but still...
grace
stephenc

June 20, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Pray along (out loud) with the Salvo Warfare Version (4) imprecatory psalms:

Psalm 52: 1 - 9

So you’re a hero, are you? Why are you bragging about your crimes against God’s people? God’s goodness isn’t wearing out. Yet you devote your days devising destruction. Your razor-sharp tongue slices deceitfully. You lust evil and lies and leave good and truth alone.

You delight in harming others, you liar! But God is going to finish you off, once and for all. He will pluck you from your home and uproot you from civilization.

Righteous observers will be astounded. We’ll laugh at you, saying, "So much for the heroes whose god is their wealth, whose training regimen builds wickedness!

But over here I am thriving in God’s house a like a green olive tree. I’m trusting God’s invincible love like its never going out of style.

I am never going to stop praising you, Yahweh, for Your blessing. Our community of Your people waits for Your mercies. (copyright The Salvation Army- use, just give credit to The Army)
____
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

G8 Debt Cancellation a Major Step

"The Make Poverty History campaign applauds the weekend announcements by G8 Finance Ministers on a debt cancellation package as a key step forward for many of the world’s poorest countries.

"This decision marks acceptance, by rich countries, of outright debt cancellation as a strategy for management of the debt stock held by the world’s multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The proposed deal will cover 18 countries initially and could eventually free up $US 40 to 50 billion in resources for qualifying poor countries.
___
praise the Lord.
grace
stephenc

Salvo Warfare Version (3)

Here is another imprecatory psalm for you to pray out loud to God:

Psalm 40

I waited patiently for You, Yahweh to help me, and You inclined and hear my crying. You pulled me out of my desperate situation, up out of the muck and mud, onto solid ground. Not only that, but you walked alongside me to keep me steady. You birthed within me a new song, and as I sing its expressions of praise to You, many people will recognize who You are and what You’ve done and will trust You, Yahweh.

These growing ranks of those who trust You, Yahweh, we are blessed. We don’t worship at the altar of the proud. We don’t shrink to lying. Yahweh, our God, You’ve performed many miracles for us. I can’t count the times You think about us. The list of Your plans and your accomplishments seems infinite.

I have not kept this secret. I’ve shared it the great news of Your dependability and Your truth with everyone I can shake a stick at! I’ve spread Your invincible love and dependability to them all. 

So Yahweh, please don't ration Your tender mercies on me. Preserve me by Your invincible love and truth. I’m surrounded by trouble! Innumerable evils have caught up to me. I’ve got more iniquity than hair! It’s ripped the heart out of me. Please, Yahweh, rescue me. Quickly, Yahweh, help. Humiliate my attackers. Shame my destroyers. Disgrace those who delight in my apparent demise. Horrify my mockers with shame. But fill everyone searching for You with joy and gladness. May Your salvation lovers shout incessantly, "Yahweh is phenomenal!"

Look at me. I’m little and insignificant. But do you know what? Yahweh is thinking about me, right now!

You are my Helper and my Deliverer. Don’t delay, God. (copyright The Salvation Army- use, just give props to The Army)
____
grace
sec

June 19, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Praise the Lord! We celebrated our third anniversary as 614 Vancouver last night. God has been faithful to us over that time and it was a privilege to join the 614 community for the festivities. Here are some photos from the event (hat tip to Michael Ramsay- top right renew network): http://www.renewnetwork.net/614b1.htm
Grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

June 18, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Here is warfare prayers (2):


Psalm 69

God save me! I’m up to my neck in this rising flood! I’m drowning in this quicksand. I can’t find a foothold in this overwhelming deep. I’m wasted from weeping; my throat is a desert. Swollen eyes are squinting out to see You, God. More people insanely hate me than there are hairs growing out of my head. Many terrible enemies are out for my head, God. Are you expecting me to return what I never stole? You know my foolishness. You’re not surprised by what I confess. Yahweh God of Armies, Israel’s King, don’t let anyone who trusts in You be humiliated because of me. They mock me to insult You. I blush with humiliation. My own brothers pretend they don’t know me. They treat me like a stranger. I love Your house like a fire raging within me; I feel the insults they hurl at You. I weep and fast; they mock. I show You my sorrow; they show me nothing but sneering disdain. Gossips bandy me about for sport while addicts put melodies to their mockeries.                

But I keep on praying to You, Yahweh. Is this the moment You will favour me in Your invincible love and answer with a sure salvation? Don’t let me sink in the mud. No more drowning in their deepening hate! Don’t leave me to be swept away by the flood, to be overwhelmed in the waves, to be swallowed by death. 

Answer me, Yahweh, in Your amazing, invincible love. Lavish me with the attention of Your boundless mercy. Don’t give me, your servant, the cold shoulder. I’m desperate for a quick escape. Show up and free me from every enemy! You know how I am cursed; You know the sources of the mocking and humiliating. Their insults are breaking my heart. I’m desperate for a little comfort or pity. Instead they poison my food and contaminate my drink. Make their security a trap. Blind them; throttle them. Unleash Your rage on them; consume them in Your fury. (copyright- The Salvation Army- copy away, just note that this version comes from The Salvation Army)
____
grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Soul Sweat

Here is more Brengle. I once wrote a song with 'til my soul sweats' from this superlative truth (note to d+g/martyrs who wonder about stirring up):

"We must stir up the gift of prayer that is within us, we must exercise ourselves in prayer until our souls sweat, and then we shall realize the mighty energy of the Holy Ghost interceding within us."
grace
stephenc

Shouting

I have reason to be reading through Brengle on shouting again (I love, tangentially, how it scandalizes lots of people), and noted this bit:
The Marechale once wrote: "Nothing fills all Hell with dismay like a reckless, dare-devil shouting faith."
Yahoo. I mean, too bad about the desertion and Dowie and everything but she did hit Europe and dropped this quote on us...
grace,
stephenc

Warfare Prayers (advanced) (1)
Here is a new, limited feature. We've got some fresh versions (draft only) of warfare-ready texts to help with your praying the Bible. We'll start with some imprecatory psalms. Pray these against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. I welcome feedback (info@thewarcollege.com).

Psalm 109

God, don’t respond to my praise with silence. Fiends are slinging slander at me. Words of hatred surround me. I’m subject to an unprovoked series of attacks. 

Appoint a wicked adversary over him. Send an accuser to force him to account. At his judgment find him guilty. Consider his prayers sin. 

Shorten his years. Replace him. Orphan his children. Render his wife a widow. Convert his children into vagabonds scavenging scraps far from their desolate homes. Let creditors seize his estate and give strangers all of his possessions. Hide kindness from him and pity from his orphaned children. 

Snip off his family line and blot out the memory of his family name. Don’t forget any of the sins of his ancestors. Sear his mother’s sins in Your memory. Let his sins always remain in Your presence but his name be forgotten forever.

He neglected any kindness as he hounded the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted to death. Withhold from him the blessings he never gave. Rebound his curses back on him. He dressed in curses. Force him to bathe in it- saturate him in curses. Let the curses be his daily attire. Punish every one of my accusers this way, Yahweh.   

Yahweh God of Armies, protect Your reputation for loyalty and goodness by dealing with me. I am poor, needy, and heart-sick. I am a fading shadow at sunset; I am a grasshopper shaken from a sleeve. I’m feeble from fasting; I’m a bone rack. I’m my accusers’ target for ridicule. They wag their heads at me. 

Yahweh, help me! Save me through Your invincible love! Make Your heroics obvious. You, Yahweh, have done it! They curse me, but You, bless me! Their attacks conclude with their disgrace. But my praising will never end! Clothe them publicly in humilation. Wrap them in dishonour. 

I’ll be a non-stop praising machine, lifting up Yahweh above the crowds. You solidify the fragile; You rescue the needy from condemnation. (copyright The Salvation Army)
____
grace
stephenc

holiness is the solution to every problem (continued).

Look, holiness solves everything. And covenant is close behind in essentials.

But I've been having a fruitful discussion with a new friend on holiness and our use of terms. Here is a little bit of it:

"There is something of omnipresence and something of 'uni-presence' that Paul and Luke imply in their different uses of 'fill'. Paul, in his famous Ephesians 5:18 passage, refers to character and holiness filling and the verb is continuous. Thus, in Paul's use of 'fill', I agree that it might be redundant for HOLY believers to ask that Holy Spirit fills (I say 'might be' because, since the verb is continuous, we can infer that the need is also continuous). But Luke's use of the term is different. On the battle front, when engaging the enemy, Luke refers to Holy Spirit filling people. That phenomenon had nothing to do (from what we read) with character, but with power and with effect.

"And so, it is not contradictory for a holy person, filled with the Spirit (in Paul's terms) to ask Holy Spirit to come and fill her (in Luke's terms).
____
What also can be said is that deliverance is a key component of sanctification, as we need to remove evil spirits if we want to be filled with Holy Spirit.
grace
stephenc

June 17, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

General Larsson quoted General Booth on the training of children last week. Here is the reference:

THE TRAINING OF CHILDREN
OR,
HOW TO MAKE THE CHILDREN INTO
SAINTS AND SOLDIERS OF JESUS CHRIST
By
WILLIAM BOOTH
1888
SECOND EDITION
Chapter XX
Q. May not children grow up into Salvation without knowing the exact moment of conversion?
A. Yes, it may be so; and in the future we trust this will be the usual way in which children will be brought into the Kingdom.
When the conditions named in the first pages of this volume are complied with – when the parents are godly, and the children are surrounded by holy influences and examples from their birth – and trained up in the spirit of their early dedication – they will doubtless come to know and love and trust their Savior in the ordinary course of things.
The Holy Ghost will take possession of them from the first. Mothers and fathers will, as it were, put them into the Savior’s arms in their swaddling clothes, and He will take them, and bless them, and sanctify them from the very womb, and make them His own, without their knowing the hour or the place when they pass from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light. In fact with such little ones it shall never be very dark, for their natural birth shall be, as it were, in the spiritual twilight, which begins with the dim dawn, and increases gradually until the noonday brightness is reached; so answering to the prophetic description, " The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. iv. 18).
____
Hallelujah!
That extends the permanent revolution (once it starts).
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

covenant...

Man- things are going wild in the blogosphere over covenant (well, Drudge hasn't jumped on the bandwagon or anything. Actually, not even littlegreenfootballs...).

I couldn't resist adding a couple of cents to the Evans (see top right- suburbanoutpost...) that goes like this:
Jonathan: Nice to drop the Nazirites (the whole list is Paul, Samuel, Samson, and Johnny B, I think). Conquerors all.
And don't forget the Rechabites- hardcore covenanted people like Johonadab.
Then you start adding guys like the Jesuits and Franciscans and... and you're looking at covenant through different lenses.
As Rob Dolby once said, you can't make God love you more, but you can let Him trust you more.
And that is what covenant does.
Hallelujah.
grace,
stephenc

General Larsson meets President Bush
(media release)

An important engagement for General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson during their USA campaign was a 25-minute talk with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington – at the conclusion of which the General prayed with the US President.

The General updated President Bush on The Salvation Army's massive response to the Indian Ocean tsunami and particularly took the opportunity to thank the President for the valuable financial support The Salvation Army receives from USAID, the US government agency, which enables the funding of projects throughout the developing world, most notably in the field of HIV/Aids. General Larsson also acknowledged the President's role in promoting government support for faith-based community programmes within the USA.

The President expressed his admiration for The Salvation Army's work and his appreciation to Salvationists everywhere for their commitment to service in the name of Christ.

In his concluding prayer, the General prayed that the President would continue to know the reality of daily renewal as he faces the challenges of each day.
____
grace
sec

end of active service and new appointment...

Colonel Robinson is staying on the faculty of The War College (the following announcement omits this important detail), thank God:

INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS

"Colonels Earl and Benita Robinson, Secretary and Associate Secretary for Spiritual Life Development and International External Relations at International Headquarters, complete their mission in these capacities on 30 June 2005. Based in Vancouver, Canada, they have continued their responsibilities into retirement. The colonels are also, respectively, chairman and secretary of the International Doctrine Council and will continue with these assignments.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Colonels Earl and Benita Robinson for the inspiration that they have brought to the development of the spiritual life of Salvationists through their international ministry, and for the fine way that they have represented the Army on the global ecumenical scene during the last eight years.

I am pleased to announce that Commissioner Linda Bond, who has returned to Officership, is appointed Secretary for Spiritual Life Development and International External Relations at International Headquarters, effective 1 July 2005.

I know that you will join me in praying God's blessing on our comrades at this time."
____
grace,
stephenc

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

I noticed that the NBA finals are broadcast in 205 countries. And I have a note that the NFL championship is televised in 223 countries. So those of you who can't believe for us getting into 200 countries with mmccxx should check the television listings. There are more than 200 countries according to some ways of counting.

Also, props to Colonel Jim Knaggs for being the highest-ranking Salvationist blogger (that I can find). He's at chiefspeak.blogspot.com. But what was more impressive to me was that he has been known to post comments on blogs (including those on the top right). I love it. More power to hm. (if you know of other chiefs or maybe comms or generals blogging, please et me know at info@thewarcollege.com).

I played Risk last week with some old high school chums- CA, MD, LLB- all successful guys. The banker assserted that typing 101 (grade 9) was the most valuable course he took in high school and the other guys agreed.

I never took typing 101... (THAT explains things)

(but I did win Risk!)
Much grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

revolution issue of JAC

The new issue of JAC -July/August- will feature REVOLUTION. We're accepting articles now at info@thewarcollege.com.

By the way, it is not too late to apply at thewarcollege.com for a year of revolution.
grace
stephenc

MMCCXX taking off!!!

Hey- look at this Territorial Commander calling all of his troops to be deployed in bi-vocational, cell-based outpost pioneering. And sign up in that territory or with us (info@thewarcollege.com). MMCCXX is spreading...



NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT
from Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters

Hello. This is Commissioner .... writing to older teens and twenty-somethings after the YouthQuake weekend.  I want to challenge you with a new ministry opportunity.  I intended to announce this at the end of Sunday morning's service but there were so many seekers at the altar it just didn't seem right to intrude.  So, I'm sending the announcement now.

Would you be willing to give a year to ministry?  That's right -- a year.  Maybe you signed the sheets on Saturday night for praying the Bible, or raising $4,000 for a children's home, or one of the other ideas.  Great ideas they were, too.  And I believe you are already acting to fulfill your commitments.  But all of the commitments on the sheets can be accomplished right where you live now.  By contrast, maybe you responded to the officership call on Saturday morning.  If so, you face a lifetime commitment.  But maybe, just maybe, you are in between: you don't have a clear call to a lifetime but neither do you want to settle for what you can do at home.  You sense God challenging you to take on something more than the same old same old.  Well, I've got an idea for you.  A year-long ministry in an innovative setting.

Here's the idea.  I see us forming small teams to live and work in poor neighborhoods for a year.  Not less than three in a team, to provide you with mutual support, fellowship and accountability.  Live in a rented apartment or other cheap accomodation in the neighborhood where you minister.  Not employees of the Army but tent-makers.  You know the term, right?  In the New Testament Paul supported himself by sewing tents, ministering in the evenings and on the Sabbath.  You could do the same.  Other Christian groups have experimented with this, quite successfully. Team members would support themselves by getting a job, any job, even sales clerk or hamburger flipper.  The point is not to make money, just earn enough to get by.  Team members would pool their money for rent and food, living in a tight-knit, self-run, small believers' community.

In the off hours the team would minister creatively in the neighborhood.  Prayer walk through the apartment building and nearby streets.  Hang out at the park to shoot hoops with the kids, befriending and witnessing.  Spot some women with babies in strollers, inviting young mothers to a mother's 'Morning Break' bible study (with some team members watching the babies).  Invite all the neighbors along the apartment floor hallway to a bible study in your apartment.  Walk the neighborhood at night to see what's going down, and what you could do about it: the teens sniffing inhalers, the girls prostituting, the winos on park benches, the...whatever.  Shovel the snow from sidewalks of the three elderly ladies who live alone and don't get out all winter.  Invite a couple of teens to the Saturday night youth group at the nearby corps, and go with them.  Advocate with the city alderman to get all your neighbors' trash collection back on regular schedule.  Befriend.  Talk.  Help.  Share your faith.  BeChrist in person for someone.  You get the idea.  Invent ministry.  Pray for Spirit-inspired creativity.

I mentioned a corps.  Ideally the team's apartment would be not too far from a corps.  We would choose corps where the corps officer likes this kind of unstructured, innovative ministry.  And he/she has the personality and spiritual gifts to be a supporter of your team, mentoring, encouraging, helping.  But not controlling!  The team would be largely self-accountable.  Still, the corps relationship would provide continuing spiritual connection for people after the year is up.

All the divisional commanders have expressed keen interest in this.  They stand ready to help select the best locations and opportunities.  Here at THQ our young adult ministries specialist will work with all the young adults to put teams together and place them in appropriate cities/neighborhoods, partnering with the DCs and corps.

Do you want more specific details?  Sorry, but I don't have them.  Because I don't want to decide everything.  I want you and your team members to pray and dream and risk and innovate.  You should decide many of the specific details!  No, better than that, you and the Spirit of God.

Are you at least 18 years old and out of high school, the minimum requirement? Are you still under 30, the upper age limit?  Would you be willing to take a year off from college?  Would you delay the start of college for a year?  Or, if you just finished college, delay the start of your career for a year?  Can you get free to commit for a year?  Even as you read this do you feel a call by the Spirit to do and to dare?  If so, pray about it and then contact Linda.  (you'd better contact us on this one- info@thewarcollege.com).

If you know of someone who ought to receive this announcement feel free to forward it.  If you have a friend who might be interested, talk to him/her; maybe you can help recruit!

I believe we need some outside-the-box ministry innovations in our Army.  I believe in you, that you have a heart for God.  I know God's heart is broken for the poor, the troubled, the victimized.  Oh, that the song's words might be more realized: Let the streets resound with singing, dancers who dance upon injustice!

....
Commissioner
____
Hallelujah!
grace
stephenc

new blog

Candidate Michael Ramsay, a very bright guy from our corps, has been blogging at http://www.renewnetwork.net/sheepspeak.htm. Be challenged.
grace
stephenc

Flag Day

Yesterday was Flag Day in the USA. Here is the best flag song I know- also one of the best fight songs (even better than Old Toronto (UofT's):

We'll never let the old flag fall
for we love it the best of all
we've taken the field for God and right
we're in this War to fight fight fight

We'll march to victory as we sing
the praise of our God and King
to the ends of the world our flag's unfurled
we'll never let the old flag fall!

(God bless the Blood and Fire).
grace
stephenc

Commissioning of Preparers Of The Way

Well, yesterday you got a little USC commissioning propaganda. Today you get the USS. Here is the benediction prayed by Major Richard Munn:

Ordination Benediction
Preparers Of The Way
June 11, 2005

Father:

You now focus your attention from ‘Preparers of the Way’ to every soldier in our midst.

Lest we are lulled into complacency,
Erroneously thinking that these newly ordained officers are the specialists who now alone will do the work of ministry,
Shock us back into the reality of the battlefield
Where every believer is engaged in hand to hand combat
With the forces of evil.

Sear into our very DNA the jarring war cry of William Booth:

‘Not called!' did you say?
Not heard the call,’ I think you should say.
Put your ear down to the Bible,
And hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin.
Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity,
And listen to its pitiful wail for help.
Go stand by the gates of hell,
Then look Christ in the face -- whose mercy you profess to obey
-- And tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body
In the march to publish His mercy to the world.

And so 5000 ‘Preparers of the Way’ in this great congregation
Now pronounce:
“We cannot say we are not ordained.
We were ordained when we signed Articles of War under the Army Flag.
You ordained every man, woman, and child here present that has received new life in Christ.

Father, You ordain us now.
Jesus, You lay your hands upon us now.
Holy Spirit, You ordain us with the breath of Your mouth.
Triune God, You commission and authorize every one of us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

And now, may the God who shakes heaven and earth,
Whom death could not contain,
Who lives to disturb and heal us,
Bless you with power to go forth and proclaim the gospel.
The grace of God be with you all, now and always.

Amen!
____
grace
stephenc

June 15, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

You should check out Company 150- our territory's summer arts team (http://salvationarmy.ca/150/). It's a bunch of sharp-looking young adults out to sooth the savage beast.

More to come today. Check back.
grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

alert called off...
Major quake strikes off coast of Northern California

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

(06-14) 21:13 PDT Crescent City, Calif. (AP) --
A major earthquake struck about 80 miles off the coast of Northern California on Tuesday night, briefly prompting a tsunami warning along the Pacific coast.

The 7.0-magnitude quake struck at about 7:50 p.m. about 90 miles west southwest of the coastal community of Crescent City and 300 miles northwest of San Francisco, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Web site.

A tsunami warning was briefly in effect from the California-Mexico border all the way north to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, but was called off about an hour after the quake hit.

Crescent City was the site of the only known tsunami to kill people in the continental United States. Eleven people died and 29 city blocks were washed away when a tsunami hit Crescent City in 1964.

Witnesses felt buildings shaking along the California coast but there were no immediate reports of damage.
____
grace
stephenc

tsunami warning

Tonight at 20:30 pst there was a report of a 7.4 Richter Scale earthquake off of California and a tsunami warning all up the west coast (including Vancouver Island). Get off the beach.
grace
stephenc

"Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment.
YOU ARE THE EQUIPMENT." Matthew 10:6-10 (MSG)

Did you catch that? WE are the equipment for Kingdom building! To be effective however, requires proper training. The purpose of this blog is not to advocate for a specific school or gap year program or training facility although that has been my objective in the past. Right now, I can only urge you brothers and sisters to be true to the Word of God:

"The last and final word is this:
Fear God. Do what he tells you." Ecclesiastes 12:13

Do you struggle with the whole 'I don't know what He is telling me" thing?
Let a sister help you out. This is what He is telling you. Yup, you. Listen up:

Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood.
Tell them that the kingdom is here.
Bring health to the sick.
Raise the dead.
Touch the untouchables.
Kick out the demons.

(this is where dicipleship, actually reading your Bible like a training manual instead of a dead book and real prayer -the talking part but also the listening part - are KEY)

Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation--just because you believe in me.

When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family.
There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate!

But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end.

It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors!
Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.

Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life--body and soul--in his hands. from Matthew 10, The Message

Lord, teach us how to fight and win perfect victory over sin.
Give us a compassion deep that will for all lost sinners weep.
That from here on in our lives will prove
That we serve Thee out of LOVE. 1970SASB#120.3

Incite and galvanize Your Army, YHWH, in the way that You want us to go and then give us the faith to believe not only that we are invited to be a part of Your divine plan, but also that the mission You assigned in Matthew 10 is real and that the equipping is available if we seek it. I can't wait Lord!! Amen.

The battle is raging comrades, be vigilant and watch for the King.

Over the past year, God has been refining my character (can I get a Hallelujah?!) especially:

1) my need to be right
2) my desire to win every argument I'm in.

Through my experience, I'm realizing that the cost of those two indulgences is:

1) broken teamwork - especially in the body of Christ
2) an unwillingness from others to discuss their ideas and opinions with me.

At the root of it all, I just want people to validate my opinions, realize that I have good stuff to say and can make a valuable contribution. It just comes out all wrong and sinful. I want to be thought wise, but appear the fool.

"Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom?

~YES!

Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

~What does that even look like?

It's the way you live, not the way you talk that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom...whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at each other's throats.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.

You CAN develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results ONLY if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. James 3:13-18 The Message

~Lord,you KNOW that it can be seriously hard work to get along, and it's obvious that we're not that great at it, but grant grace by Holy Spirit and plant the desire in Your Church to honor and love one another please...Amen.

Death and Glory,
Heather Dolby

And a Child Shall Lead Them...

I was teaching a children's cell the other week, and was endeavouring (with little success) to get across Paul's message to Timothy: "Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, etc..."

I asked one little boy what he would do if I asked him to teach me how to play basketball. He laughed at me and said he couldn't because I was so much bigger and better than him. Point missed, obviously.

Then I asked a young , "What if I asked you to teach and show the Church how to pray?"

She looked at me, set her face firmly, and said, "Yes. I will do it."

Not, "uh sure, I'd do somoething like that." She said YES, I WILL do it.

Now THAT'S what I talkin about! I believe that she would, and will do it too.

Let's allow children to exercise the gifts God has given them, and not just see them as little people to be babysat until they are old enough to tithe and contribute. They can contribute, and lead, right now.

Grace,

Aaron

commissioning.

It's that time of year, in our hemisphere, and so I've taken the liberty to congratulate the new captains and make a few suggestions. Please pass them on to any you know...

Preparers of the Way:

May God empower you mightily in the great Salvation War.

Can I offer a few unsolicited suggestions? Thanks! :- )

Listen to God. Pray and hide in the Word so that you can hear.

Be accountable. Stay connected with your disciplers and mentors and accountability partners from training. Make some more along the way.

What counts in training might not matter on the field. Following orders and being on time is nice. But you've got to lead.

Don't cheat yourself. Keep an eternal perspective and make decisions based on that, not on pleasing an unhappy pew-warmer or on a possible 'promotion'.

Live simply. It is hard in The Army of the West, but try to shed the excess baggage we get foisted on us. If you're stuck with a big quarters then fill it with indigents or parachuted co-labourers. I heard of an officer couple that fires more than $20,000/year in cartridge. There's a target for you (and me).

Remember your appointment. You are appointed to win your county or town or district, not to coddle the saints (to steal from Comm. Cadman).

Zero-budget strategy. If you were starting from scratch would you really start that programme that has been running for 121 years? Would you really be pouring $58,000 into that programme which the government sort of helps out?

Keep high standards. Soldiers ought to be signed up for life, be uniformed, fire at least a tenth on their cartridge, pray and read every day, be in discipleship, have been trained by your leaders, read the whole Bible (!), know the doctrines, have read O+R and HoD, be in a brigade activity, and so on. Cut those who don't (if they don't repent).

Don't take privilege. Entitlement is usually a dirty word. Don't sit on protocol or 'Captain this' or the front seats or... Serve. Pump your people (give them the Mike on Sundays as much as you take it).

Maintain a battle posture. It is a real War. And if we're not fighting, we're not helping win it.

Holiness is the solution to every problem. If you don't understand it- fullness. There you go.

God bless The Salvation Army.

Much grace
StephenC

June 14, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Jonathan Evans is off to the races on one of my favourite subjects- covenant. You can read him at the top right of this page. He quotes Phil Laeger's song, Covenant, Here it is:
I got nothin' I can bring to You
Just a borrowed tune I sing to You
And if I'm honest and tell everything to You
I just don't feel like I used to
But I know You already knew
Everything I'd be going through
Because You walked where I'm walking now
And You didn't throw in the towel
So I won't...

I won't go back on my covenant
My heart is heaven bent
Yeah, I'm on the right track
His hand of grace is upon me now
My hand is on the plow
And I'm not turning back
Carry my cross to where Jesus went
All that I said I meant
I won't go back on my covenant

So get a grip with your tired hands
And with your shaky legs take a stand
Mark out a straight path before Your feet
So those who follow you won't stay weak
Cause He who first made you new
Is gonna finish His perfect work in you
So fix your eyes on the Glorious King
And sing this sweet song of victory
With me...

I won't go back on my covenant
My heart is heaven bent
Yeah, I'm on the right track
His hand of grace is upon me now
My hand is on the plow
And I'm not turning back
Carry my cross to where Jesus went
All that I said I meant
I won't go back on my covenant

I won't obey just when I feel like it
Or when it's convenient
No, no, no, no...
____
A pervasive embrace of covenant will save (and is the only thing that will save?) our Army for the next generation.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

June 13, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

My source (hat tip to HH) sent this in:

Werner Stark quotes Bramwell Booth writing to Railton, "I am convinced that we must stick to our concern, and that we must also keep up its so-called extravagances. They, and they only will save it from drooping down into a sectarian nothing." (Letter of 6 October 1874, quoted from Th.F.G.Coates, Prophet of the Poor, p.98.) Stark comments "What Booth wanted was precisely what Trotsky wanted: a permanent revolution." ( Werner Stark, Sectarian Religion, pp.284-5.)
____
For those of us so inclined this is great advice. We can't let up on the so-called extravagances.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

God Bless The Salvation Army...

Just found out about a group of Salvos from Munbay India who are running a 24-7 prayer room, and working to deal with the burgeoning sex exploitation of children in their city (500,000 children being trafficked). Started by a guy who grew up in a Salvation Army children's home because his mother, possibly a prostitute, had given him up. He talked about massive systemic oppression and the Army's efforts to save people from it.

If teh Russian Maffia and other groups can be so successful at running an operation that abducts, buys, and sells children, why can't we be as successful running an operation that saves them from that life? Is it because they are more motivated by profit than we are by salvation?

Grace,

Aaron

Another name for us...

Retro, militant, hasidic, all well and good...

But I think Jesuit Salvos fits us best!

Grace from Atlanta,

Aaron

June 12, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

The Hassidic Salvo comment has received some feedback, one email from someone on the inside:

"... passion, and the abandon... The Chassidim's beauty though, is their gentleness, and their humility, which was what I loved so much about them. They usually avoid using a strident voice. In the Jewish orthodox picture they lack the authoritarian hierarchy, and are better at relating horizontally.  They can (but don't always) have a refreshing lack of social prejudice."

Wow. Humility, gentleness, relational, lack of social prejudice... Nice. A good target.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

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

I've been doing something in recent days that might end up being contemptible. No, I've not been beating my wife, or cheating on my wife, or raping children.
I've been recommending revolution (no contemptible in itself, but read on).

Railton declares:

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

If we stop at the recommendation, and merely recommend revolution, we're as contemptible as wife beaters and child rapists.

On with the revolution.
Much grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Friday, June 10, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

My friend told me he liked to take his friend to a nearby corps to give him a taste of traditional Salvation Army. How does he describe it? A boom box on a stool in an attic above a baptic congregation.

If that is traditional Salvation Army (suggesting such a varied expression of The Army) we're not in such terrible shape.
grace,
sec

Friday

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

We've picked up a few nicknames in the last little while, things like the 'retros', lunatic fringe, militant wing (of The Salvation Army), primitive salvationists, and so on. This past week we were called a new one: Hasidic Salvos.

This is what the adjective means:

Hasidic Judaism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning "pious" from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning "loving kindness") is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. It is also known as Hasidism, and the adjective Chasidic/Hasidic (or in Yiddish Chasidish חסידיש) is applied. It originated in Eastern Europe (Belarus and Ukraine) in the 18th century.

The movement was founded by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1700-1760), also known as the Baal Shem Tov (abbreviated as Besht). It was formed in a time of persecution of the Jewish people, when European Jews had turned inward to Talmud study; many felt that most expressions of Jewish life had become too "academic", and that they no longer had any emphasis on spirituality or joy. The Ba'al Shem Tov set out to improve the situation. In its initial stages, Hasidism received opposition from several contemporary leaders, most notably the Vilna Gaon of Lithuania, united as the mitnagdim (Hebrew: "opposers").
_____
I'll take it. The root, chesed, has to do with covenant love, I am told. So it totally fits The Army.
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

"King Heroin is my shepherd, I shall always want. He maketh me to lie down in the gutters."
"He leadeth me beside the troubled waters. He destroyeth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of wickedness."
"Yea, I shall walk through the valley of poverty and will fear no evil for thou, Heroin, art with me."
"Thy needle and thy capsule comfort me."
"Thou strippest the table of groceries in the presence of my family."
"Thou robbest my head of reason. My cup of sorrow runneth over."
"Surely heroin addiction shall stalk me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the damned forever."
Also found in the car with the dead woman was this message:


"Jail didn't cure me. Nor did hospitalization help me for long. The doctor told my family it would have been better, and indeed kinder, if the person who got me hooked on dope had taken a gun and blown my brains out. And I wish to God he had."


This was a suicide note left with a young girl who ran a hose from her tail pipe to her car window. I can particularly relate to this story as I see the effects of heroin on my nieghbours every day. However there exists the same hopelesness all around you too. In our communities there are those whom Death is destroying, and it is our responsibility to be ones who carry life to them. I want to challenge you to find one person lost in darkness you know, then lets do two things;

1. Pray for them.
2. Do something.

The "Do something" part is the hard part, but it is amazing what a cup of cold water can do! In the name of Jesus.(Matt 25)

What are you going to do?

mmccxx DEATH AND GLORY SHOCK TROOP DOLBY

We had a conference here in Vancouver called "RAW" which stood for ready and willing. The aim of the conference was to assemble young people on their March Break and give them opportunities to serve, evangelize, prophesy, weep, have their hearts broken for the poor as well as to be blessed by them and to hear teachings to equip them for battle in Jesus' Name.

When faced with the text I was given to preach on - Isaiah 52:7:

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
       who proclaim peace,
       who bring good tidings,
       who proclaim salvation,
       who say to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"

I was struck with the obvious action involved in bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ. We have to move. We can't stay on the battlefield when the victory has been won, NO! The fervour, the drama, the sheer elation of emerging triumphantly in God's eternal Kingdom, adopted into His eternal family stimulates the warrior - whether fresh from the farm or battle-scarred and seasoned - to propel themselves towards nearby persons. This often involved sprinting long distances through treacherous territory to bring the Good News to others.
Who are these "Others"? They are those who wait within walled cities, languishing under oppression from the enemy and no hope to look to.

Imagine how beautiful on the mountain would be the sight of one who brings news (especially good news) of the battle? The outcome of which would decide whether or not those city-dwellers had freedom and prosperity in their land, with fathers, brothers and husbands returning home after being called to arms - and quite possibly with cattle and riches in tow OR if you could expect slavery, or even worse, an army to march on your city and carry off your virgin daughters, burn homes, rape old and young women, piercing pregnant wombs and destroying all evidence that your people ever existed.
Beautiful feet indeed.

This call, to "Go ye therefore" (Matthew 28) is not a suggestion, but clearly the only fitting response after winning the battle with sin and death by surrendering to Jesus and receiving salvation. Referring to Strong's Lexicon, I was pleased to learn that the greek word poreoumai (which is used here for the word go) has this meaning:

~to pursue the journey on which one has entered, to continue on one's journey

Which leads me to a conclusion that if after coming to godly sorrow that leads to true repentance for your sin and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus and the forgivness of that sin, unless you SPRING FORTH and run to tell others who are still waiting in the barricaded cities of sin and death to bring them the Good News of Jesus Christ, then you aren't continuing on your spiritual journey. You aren't even entering into it. You stay on the battlefield feeling rather proud of yourself.

We must move! Others have to know!
If you have no idea what I am talking about and have never experienced spiritual feelings that would make you want to do backflips in the air and shout out in a public place out of sheer love for Jesus, then I adjure you to ask yourself whether or not you have truly had an experience with a Living God.
Otherwise, the deal is to Go...bring someone some Good News!

Death and Glory,
Heather Dolby

I have resently been enrolled as a soldier in the Salvation Army, I take that covenant quite seriously and aim to fullfill it by living a covenanted lifestyle. This covenanted lifestyle includes pouring out all of my being into the Great Salvation War. This covenented life means I must fight for the broken and be a voice and vehicle for JUSTICE. This covenented life means I must give up my own and pursue only The Kingdom and its rewards, and yes this Kingdom has an abundance of blessings and earthly provision, but it is also full with the blessings of suffering and even the gift of persecution.
I long for the Lords long-suffering, I pray that the Salvation Army would be brought to her knees, broken, poor, beaten, spit on, despised by the world, and by the religeous, ASAP.
It was when the police allowed thugs to beat us that Holy Spirit had room to breathe. It was when we sought to rescue the looser, alien, orphan and widow, when God gave us half the world, When our missionaries were dying in gutters with the untouchables ... when we were the image of an invisable God.
There are many remenants of these primative days, traces of glory, shadows of the revolution, and many flags adorned with tasels that have never breathed the open air.
But praise God that our inheritence is not lost, only burried. Burried Forces. We must be God's Army, but we must learn to advance on our knee's.

" I AM IN THIS ARMY BY CHOICE, AND I AM ENLISTED FOR ETERNITY.
I WILL EITHER RETIRE IN THIS ARMY AT THE RAPTURE, OR DIE IN IT.
BUT I WILL NOT GET OUT, SELL OUT, OR BE PUSHED OUT.
HELL CAN NOT HANDLE ME. HERE I STAND ... A SOLDIER! WILL YOU STAND WITH ME."

mmccxx614 DEATH AND GLORY SHOCK TROOP DOLBY

June 5, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I've just come upon a new verse to the famous TAKE OVER BID song- 'If Your heart's alright, You'll Do" (You don't have to be clever).

It is by my friend Nealson Munn, written by him many years ago while a young teen:

If you're sick or psychotic
an alcoholic
who's neurotic
If you're broke or insane and you
don't have a brain
If you're out of your mind
and your cruel and unkind
then The Salvation Army
wants you!
_____
I'll drink to that- non-alcoholic!
grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Wouldn't See It In Orangeville...

The other day a man was shot to death outside my home 8 times, in front on hundreds of witnesses. I don't believe you'd see that in Orangeville, though there were some murders in the town while I was there.

My Co-op put out a sign, expressing its sadness that this tragedy had happened, and place a bouquet of flowers at the spot where he was killed.

The flowers were stolen.

I am simply amazed that someone would steal the flowers. Why? For what possible benefit? People in our Co-op were up in arms, possibly more upset by the theft than by the drive by shooting.

Ya wouldn't see dat in Orangeville.

Grace,

Aaron

June 4, 2005.

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

This is a big day. The brand new, modern version of a revolutionary document- AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY, by Catherine Booth with Cory Harrison, has just been published. I will have mroe propaganda for you in the days to come but for now know that Meoldy Green endorses it to the tune of every one who calls on the name of the Lord must read this book. Maybe she is a little over the top on this, or maybe not. But you should jump the rush and get an early copy from Cory Harrison (see Cory at 242 - top right).
Much grace
sec
posted by Stephen Court

Adding a Little Culture to the Blog...

I came across this beautiful poem a couple of days ago, attributed it is said to St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus:

Prayer to Our Redeemer

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy Wounds hide me.
Let me not be seperated from Thee.
Guard me should the foe assail me.
Call me when my life shall fail me.
Bid me come to Thee above
With all Thy saints to sing Thy love forever.
Amen.

Grace,

Aaron

JAC @37

The new issue is out (top right). There are some key articles you'll want to read and mull over. How do I narrow down a whole list? Well, start with HIll's LEADERSHIP article. Then tackle Cory Harrison on Repainr The Ruins. And work your way through the whole issue. Check them out today, and email them to your friends tomorrow. Stay tuned here for more blogs.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

June 2, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

2 Corinthians 5:11- Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

This is a powerful verse. Most translations make it, 'knowing the fear of the Lord'. But we've watered down that concept so much that a solid father who doesn't commit crimes and thanks 'the good Lord' can call himself a God-fearing man.�

That's why I like the AV here- the terror of the Lord obviously suggests something extremely more dangerous than that. Traditionally, in the Bible, to know something is to become intimate- even one- with it (I know I am hopping from one language to another here, but don't worry). Once we're dead, once we're humble, the terror of the Lord can seize and saturate us. Well, then, everywhere we go, we end up oozing this holy terror. Others with whom we interact begin to catch on that our relationship with God is more than buddy-buddy. It is Creator-created/King-subject/Ruler-slave/Everything-nothing.�

And I am guessing that this oozing holy terror is the best means of 'persuad(ing) men'.

Not coincidently, that is the origin behind the name of the next session of The War College (hat tip to JM).
Much grace,
sec
posted by Stephen Court

found this at http://www.clarion-journal.ca - check it out.
Danielle

Weekly Christian Inspiration
Stories To Make You Think

Words From God


As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy.

At one point you had to wait, fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.

I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't.

That's okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet. You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show.

I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me. Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time.

That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart.

It is hard to have a one sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up once again. And once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!

Your friend, GOD

June 1, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

Today the new issue of JAC comes out. Stay tuned...

Also, the Ausstralian press came out with this great coverage of The Army there:

Undercover angels help the needy
Liam Houlihan, youth reporter
31may05
Herald Sun

AN ARMY of young volunteers will spend a year on Melbourne's streets in a radical new approach to social work.

The world-first scheme will see the team of "undercover angels" squatting in the city's backpackers, alleys and boarding houses, blending in and helping the needy they encounter.
The 32 volunteers from Victoria, interstate, England and Ireland have pledged to spend a year sleeping rough away from their homes, friends and family. They will be paid nothing and will be on call around the clock.
To support themselves they will have to work another job in their spare time or live off savings.
Salvation Army captain Brendan Nottle, who is behind the scheme known only as Order 614, agreed the initiative was a big ask. But he said the toughness of the task had actually attracted young people.
"The ad would probably sound a lot like the one Shackleton put in the newspaper for his Antarctica mission: 'All we can offer you is exhaustion, bad soup and freezing conditions.' He got 27 applicants, we got 32," Mr Nottle said.
Most of the group, recruited from student, church and youth groups, are aged 17 to 24.
Many will be devoting their gap year between university and the workplace or another spare year from their lives to directly intervene and help in the lives of the CBD's vulnerable.
Melbourne was chosen for the ambitious experiment because of its high number of marginalised people. The volunteers have been intensively trained in different skills covering young people, children, homelessness and mental illness.
Musician Adam Rigley, 21, became involved because he wanted to get his hands dirty for a year. He said he wanted his world view broadened because the music industry could sometimes be too plastic and selfish.
"I went to Africa and it really opened my eyes to loss," Mr Rigley said." It started me doing volunteer work.
"There's a real need for the current project and I find it more satisfying than most things."
The work of the volunteers will include:
PROVIDING a breakfast program at schools for students who have not been fed at home.
BRINGING beggars to the Salvation Army's Bourke St Life Centre where they will receive food, accommodation, medication and psychological services.
OUTREACH work in squats, lanes and parks helping those who are sleeping rough.
DOING late night blanket and food drops when support accommodation is full.
VISITING, cleaning and feeding residents of rooming houses.
BEING a listening ear for the lonely and elderly.
"There's a perception in society that youth are very self-focused," Mr Nottle said. "Baby boomers might think that because kids aren't protesting like in the '60s and '70s, but there's a real depth among young people now.
"I'm 40 and there's not a chance I would have volunteered for something like this when I was 20."
With expressions of interest from the US and New Zealand for next year, Mr Nottle said Order 614 had the potential to be really big.
____
Hallelujah!
grace
stephenc

May 31, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

I am getting some well-intentioned flak concerning my officership comments. Fair enough.

The context is this: I'm in for life. I think that it has been the best way to win the world for Jesus. I am filling in corps officer evaluations for four candidates right now for officership.

I am not against officership at all. I love it. That's why I am fighting for its improvement.

grace
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court