Armybarmy Blog

August 30, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Those who know me know that I am big on primitive salvo signs and wonders and am eagerly looking forward to levitating on day.

A new friend of mine just divulged that his grandfather levitated in SA meetings in Newfoundland! Yahoo. He's the first that I know who knows a levitator. I want to tap into that well...

Hallelujah!
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

August 29, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Early this morning I was in the prayer room for Territorial School of Music and Gospel Arts and I had headphones on. Being fairly technologically challenged, I couldn't figure out how to turn down the volume and propped them up higher on my head (my wife had been using them last!).
Anyway, I discovered that headphones cause me to pray the Bible out loud to God much louder than I usually go (and I can get to some good forte action). I was shouting our some great Biblical prayers at 2am and might have thrown off the night watchman. :- )
grace
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posted by Stephen Court

"'I hope you are not giving of your surplus,'says Mother Teresa to a group of rich businessmen who offer her a purse at the end of an excellent dinner."

As I read this I pause to consider my own giving to God's Kingdom. My husband and I have gone from living in semi-poverty (luxuriant Canada style poverty that is, certainly not anything like other countries experience) and making a few thousand dollars last year to living in a fully furnished basement apartment in a nice house in a nice neighbourhood, complete with a washer and dryer and money for things like groceries (ice cream too) and bus tickets and other little treats. Through God's providence and direction, our standard of living has skyrocketed, even if only for a time, and yet when faced with this blessing shall we buy things designed to titillate our sense and overindulge our flesh and then repay our Heavenly Father's lavish abundance by giving our scanty yet traditional 10% tithe to the church?
I read on:

'You must give what costs you, make a sacrifice, go without something you like, that your gift may have value before God; then you will be truly brothers to the poor who are deprived of even the things they need." excerpted from Servant of Love, by E. LeJoly page 98

Are we merely giving of your surplus?
God help us.

"Teach us Your way, O LORD, and we will walk in your truth;" Psalm 86:11

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

My logos (look it up in the greek) time lately has been intensely spurred on, pumped up, and all around jacked ! I have been soaking in a new paraphrase of the word called, " The Word on the Street. " If your religeous or have ever said, " The King James version is the only bible " then dont pickit up it most likely would be quite offensive and Ye Should hither then back to thine old school drama. Anyway people are always asking us, " What is 614 ? " so heres my best answer from the word on the street.

" The Spirit of God is coursing through every part of me. He's commissioned me to announce the breaking news - fantastic news for the poor! He's sent me to mend broken hearts, to liberate those slammed up in dark prisons, to announce the news that this is the era of God going gentle on his people. It's payback time for our enemies! My manifesto is to get alongside the grieving - to swap their burnt-out hopes for beautiful crowns, to exchange their regrets for delight, to trade in their despair for celebration songs. They'll be like towering sculptures - chiselled out by God to be a constant reminder of his brilliance. " Isaiah 61:1-3

" They're totally commited: hang on every word the team teaches, into community big time, never miss the symbolic bread-and-wine meal, spend hours talking with God. All of them are stunned by the supernatural stuff the team trigger off. They live in community, everything under common ownership; they sell their stuff and donate crazy amounts to the poor. Every day their at God's HQ, re-inacting Jesus' symbolic meal, partying together, doing each other good, celebrating God. And the locals love it! No awkward nieghbours hassiling over parking rights - they think it's great. God's upping the numbers daily, as people are having their lives sorted." Acts 2:42-47

AMEN

August 27, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Earlier this week I was flabberghasted. I looked at my daily Bible reading record and thought that I'd missed the previous day. I know I had prayed through my list but couldn't remember the Bible stuff. A pretty lengthy streak was in jeapardy! Oh no!
Praise the Lord that I didn't know the date.
The streak is alive...
grace
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posted by Stephen Court

What's My Name?

A friend of mine made a good point today.

She said that seeing as how God has so many names or titles (we have been honouring a different name of God every day for a year and a half now in the War Room) we must have a huge number of names or titles in relation to that.

In other words, if God is Healer, we are Healed. If God is Redeemer, we are Redeemed, etc...And these are just are communal names (along with Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation, etc...), not to mention all the names God may have for us as individuals.

It would be a helpful exercise to meditate on the names of God and our names in relationship to those names, so as to understand more about ourselves.

This goes into a theory I love that none of us are truly individuals, in the sense that we could ever truly "know" ourselves wholly and completely. We change, be it ever so subtley, for every occasion and relationship, and there is far too much going on inside of us to completely keep track of. We do not exist in a vacuum - our "selves" are affected by a huge and complex web of relationships, the greatest and most complex being our relationship with the Triune God. (Every other relationship we have is subordinate to and greatly affected by that One relationship).

So we are not "individuals", but rather "dividuals" - divided individuals, at least insofar as we could possibly perceive this side of heaven.

God is the only one with the vantage point to see us as we truly are, to bring together the many relationship and contradictions that make us up. So if we want to know who we are, there is only one source that can get us any closer to the truth, and it is not us.

Grace,

Aaron

Take a stroll with me down Hastings Street...

Carnegie Centre/Health Contact Centre
This is a popular spot for milling about and meeting people. Our semi-weekly street van parked there for 2 1/2 hours to share food and prayer and relationship with the hundred or more people that showed up. Lots of people choose this alley to 'use' in and there are enough dumpsters there to hide someone from nosy vehicular onlookers and intrusive eyes of police. This is one of the most rat-infested alleys we have.

The Safe Injection Site

www.cbc.ca: "Vancouver's supervised drug injection site is making its Downtown Eastside a better place to live, according to a new study.



More than 500 addicts use the clinic every day.

The Radio Station Cafe is a definite hangout in the 'hood. It's about a 3 minute walk from the Empress Hotel and a great place to stop on the way to class in the morning for a small coffee and muffin ($2!) There is never a shortage of folks milling around on that corner (Main & Columbia) buying, selling and shooting the breeze. Inside the cafe, you can sit as long as you like and make use of free internet access. It was one of my favourite spots, because the coffee is drinkable, the muffin was warm, the internet was free (no time limit unless someone is waiting) and there are big windows so you can see all the action outdoors. The only other place where I saw more friends shoot up or smoke up than here was at Hastings and Abbott.

Pigeon Park
Not the kind of park to take the kids to - unless you've got a Warrior Academy. This is a congregating spot for folks in the neighbourhood to go on the nod, shoot up together, yak the afternoon away or take a load off on one of the benches. Death and Glory held our open air meetings here, marching from the Empress Hotel, down Cordova (past Harbourlight), down Carrall back up to Hastings with the Blood and Fire flag out front, cornet right behind and djimbe in the rear. As many of us that were soldiers wore uniforms, and the rest wore the Red Shield and we were manned with songbooks, testimonies and Gospel shots. Oh, and chocolate covered digestive cookies - God bless Family Services!) This is where I met Shelley, a street tough drug dealer in her early 40's with a hard-core attitude and great hugs.

The Bottle Depot
In Vancouver, you can collect a deposit on bottles and cans and return them for cash. Many of my neighbours made that their full-time job -scavenging in dumpsters, public garbages,food courts etc. My dear friend Ken runs the "United We Can" bottle depot. He has a beautiful heart to help people and gives many work opportunities to those who need it - even if they missed coming in last week because they were high.
I went to my first AA meeting here in October of 2003 and made it my home group for the next year and a half.
You'll know when you're close, because the bottle depot emanates a pungent odor of rancid beer and pop as well as a steady stream of hunters shouldering their garbage bags or pushing their grocery cart full of bottles and cans.

Hastings and Abbott
I grew to love this intersection even more than Main and Hastings. Definetly the darker of the two, if not the more notorious, this was where the Death and Glory session of The War College spent the majority of our time, either in class, or in Re:Cre8, the evening coffee bar we hosted for our neighbours. This is an interesting shot, because it gives the impression that everyone on that crowded corner is on their way somewhere. Truthfully, most people we found there moved from that corner to the alley and back, at a constant frenzied pace seeing who's buying, who's selling and who's sharing.
I made some of my best friends here - except I'm thousands of miles away, and they remain...and unless they respond to the touch of Jesus Christ, in 2 years I'd be able to return and unless they're dead, know exactly where to find them.

Death and Glory
(my death for His glory)
Heather Dolby
614 London
MMCCXX

A Surprising God

I love it when God does the unexpected. It reminds me of how silly I am to think I can predict outcomes.

For the last month or so our local park, Oppenheimer Park, has been getting worse than usual. Increased gang presence, driver by dealings, threats to local residents, and violence along the lines of a girl getting attacked with a machete and a man being beaten with a bat and a bike chain.

This is the park where we take a local contingent of children every week to play and pray and run a cell. For the last two weeks, because it is summer time and a number of children are away, I was anticipating maybe 4-7 kids to show up. So, of course, God sends 20 or so our way, some of whom I've never seen before.

It was as if God was saying, "Well, Satan has showed us what he can do in the park. Now it's time to display my Warriors."

Grace,

Aaron

August 25, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I just got back from a camp for a day. About 100 people heard the BE A HERO pitch and lots responded, committing to pray the Bible, sponsor children, start children's homes, advocate on behalf of the marginalized, and go on a hero holiday.
Hallelujah!
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

“The first duty of love is to listen.”

—THEOLOGIAN/PHILOSOPHER PAUL TILLICH

"...a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: "This is my Son, the Chosen! LISTEN to Him."

If you love Him. You will listen to Him.

Speak to me by name, O Master,
Let me know it is to me.
Speak, that I may follow faster, with a step more firm and free,

Master, speak! and make me ready, when Thy Voice is truly heard,
With obedience, glad and steady still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord for Thee - 1970SASB #533

Prayer is about hearing God's Voice. How much of your time in prayer is spent with you talking? Consider spending as much time in a silent, listening posture are you do speaking...

Grace,
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory
614 London

The second installment of Vancouver as I know it, photos courtesy of Carl-Magnus Dumell at www.dumell.net

Hastings Street
where $20 will get you anything, even killed This shot was taken right out the front door of the Empress Hotel where a bunch of us frenetical believers laid our weary heads...I have to smile when I think of all the parking tickets and tows that occurred out front of the hotel...some things aren't funny until way afterwards...one fixture that is absent from this photo is my friend Michael, who sits on the corner of Hastings and Main with his garbage bag full of treasure. He was there every morning when I walked to and from class, or meetings or errands. He likes apple juice the best and if you stop for long enough, he will actually converse with you - I learned quickly, however, that when I saw a congregation of empty beer cans strewn off to his right side to give him a wide berth - beer made him verbally nasty. All that being said, he has one of the best smiles in the DTES.

stairs
stairs,somewhere, leading nowhere These stairs lead to one of the most panoramic and impressive views of the mountains and North Vancouver in all of Vancouver - at Crabtree Beach. It's fitting, however, that married with this stairway to beauty is the undisguised reality of the neighbourhood, depicted in the rig casually displayed at the base of the stairway.

negotiating
a prostitute trying to make a deal
done deal
prostitute getting into a customers car Perhaps it's easier for someone who doesn't know anyone in the 'business' to scroll over these two photos. These are my neighbours, and not just neighbours like your sub-division sort of neighbours, these are men and women that I spent time with, ate meals with, had evening tea with, walked places with and prayed with.

with grace, and sentiment,
Heather

all photos available here
are copyright © 1993-2005
Carl-Magnus Dumell

August 23, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
The Salvation Army, by one old definition, is an ultra-revivalist movement. We always give people opportunity to get saved.

But in practice this isn't the case. Lots of solid salvos don't give people an opportunity to get saved at meetings.

The climax of Salvo meetings is the 'prayer meeting' at the end which gives you opportunity for transaction with God. That's the point of things.

If we skip it we've missed the plot. At every meeting people should have a chance to get saved and sanctified.

Don't chicken out- make the pitch.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

August 22, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
My co-counsellor is a lot like Jesus. Overnight, an older cabin toilet-papered our cabin. He happened to wake up early, found it, and took it all down and cleaned it up before anyone else awakened. No one knows about it.
Jesus removes the offence.
Grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

August 21, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I was blessed to participate in the graduation on Friday of the Martyrs Session of The War College. God has done some remarkable things over the year and I fully anticipate some amazing victories over the next 70+ years through their lives (should Jesus tarry in returning). All glory to Jesus. He's been generous with sweet times.
Much grace,
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posted by Stephen Court

When God calls His people to a place, He gives them His heart for the land and the people, that they may best be channels of His love. Few have understood my partiality to the Downtown Eastside save those who -like myself- have met Jesus there. I'd like to spend a couple of blogs sharing the Vancouver that I have known through the heart lens the Lord has given me for that place, with the help of photographers, artists and poets found online.
The following photos and comments by Christopher DeWolf


Welcome to the Downtown Eastside. This is Vancouver's poorest and most troubled neighbourhood. It is a ghetto for drugs and drug-addled whores, freaks, outcasts, junkies. Yet it is also home to people that care, the kind souls that hand out soup and clean needles and volunteer in the Carnegie Library. It is the best and worst of Vancouver.



Copyright 2002 Urbanphoto
- Christopher DeWolf
www.urbanphoto.net/ 24van/photo20.htm

There are people hurting in the world out there...
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
There are children crying and no one to care.
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
And they'll go on hurting in the world out there,
and they'll go on dying, drowning in despair,
and they'll go on crying, that's unless WE care!
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.

There are people living who would rather die.
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
And their Christian neighbours simply pass them by!
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
There are people sitting by a silent phone,
people cold and hungry, people left alone,
suicides for reasons that remain unknown.
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
There's the prostitute, and there's the prisoner too.
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
There's the skid row fella' who won't look at you,
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
The compulsive gambler dreaming of his yacht,
And the lad that's stealing just to get his 'shot',
and the girl that's pregnant and pretends she's not.
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.

There are runaways who want a place to go.
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
There are alcoholics who don't seem to know...
They need you, they need me, they need Christ.
There are Godless people who have lost their way,
and they need God's love but they're afraid to say.
If we close our eyes perhaps they'll go away
Without you, without me, without Christ.

John Gowans,John Larsson

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said,

"Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

posted by:
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory

August 19, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I had occasion this week to help with a deliverance session of a house with a bad past. We were led by a senior leader in the Body of Christ. I asked a couple of factual questions to ascertain the authority we had in this situation. He responded, 'we have all the authority we need'.

It wasn't arrogant. It was confident. I loved it.

Now, that is not a carte blanche endorsement for you to confront the enemy. But neither is it bowing at his stature in the body (not totally, anyway). It has to do with holiness, though.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Good day!

I don't care if it makes me an armybarmy nerd, but I love reading old books written by the forerunners of our denomination - whether it's a nimble novella or a hefty old edition of the Handbook of Doctrine.

These days, out of sheer fondness, I'm circling back around to "Sergeant Major Do-Your-Best of Darkington" by General William Booth. It's a treat! Let me share a bit of it with you,
I'll leave the moral of the story to your interpretation.
(don't be put off by the old-school way of speaking, eh!)

The Open-Air p132-133
(remember, this is the Corps Sergeant Major speaking)

"It seems they'd had a nice lot of Soldiers and a good crowd. The people listened, the landlord of the pub lent them a chair - at least, his wife did - they had a capital collection, several people were deeply impressed, and a man and his wife sought salvation at the drum.
Of course, I could see how it all came about at a glance, and at once set to work to show them the reason for their success.

First, I said, there was the novelty of the new stand (the pub chair); then there was the fact that it was the Sergeant-Major's wife that led the meeting; and then there was something else, and something else...

"No," says my wife Sarah, "I don't think you are right this time, Sergeant-Major; you're a knowing kind of man, much cleverer than your poor little wife; but I don't think those were the reasons for our good meeting. I will tell you why I think we got on so well. Here they are -
"A few of my comrades agreed with me to pray and believe for a good
meeting. That was the first thing.

Then I made my plans beforehand, just as I would for a washing, and talked them over with those who were going to help me.

I bargained with the Bandmaster to bring a many of his Bandsmen with him as he could and to be there in time, and gave him two of the songs I wanted to sing.

I got Will Boozham, who was saved from the jaws of that very pub to promise that he would give us five minutes on the happiness of a Salvation life - and he could speak from experience.

I got a promise from Mrs. Grumbleton, that she would tell us how God had brought her back from the borders of the grave, saved her soul, and made her into a Soldier.

I took our girl Sally-who is a Corps Cadet as you know - to read six verses out of the Bible.

I got the Treasurer's daughter to sing my favourite solo:

"The thorns they were pierced on His beautiful brow, to pardon a rebel like me."

I only allowed five minutes for the collection.

Of course I had a turn. I took off my cape, and tied my bonnet on tight, and went in for ten minutes with all my might for their souls, talking like a dying woman to dying people, and offered salvation on the spot.
And, bless the Lord The Holy Spirit succeeded us; and He will succeed everybody else, weak or strong , who do the same."

After Sarah was finished, we all knelt down and she prayed and I cried out: "O Lord, give me more faith for Darkington, and open my eyes to see that our dear old Army is only just beginning, after all!"

Lord, give Your soldiers more faith to believe for our cities. Open our eyes to see that Your Army is only just beginning, after all...

Heather Dolby
614 London
Death and Glory
MMCCXX

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

A friend who is pretty early on in the journey on the Way, who has fought relatively few battles in the War, asked me what to expect next. I revamped an old blog (I think) and offered this back (altered):

repentance and faith

joy and pain

consecration and sanctification

suffering and persecution

covenant and power

blood and fire

signs and wonders

death and glory

Hallelujah.
My comrades of the Martyrs Session of The War College graduate tomorrow, and Phase 2 Death and Glory warriors receive Wagner Leadership Institute Associate of Practical Ministry diplomas. A season is over. A new begins. God has been exceptionally good. And He has some wonderful dreams up His sleeve. Thank You, Lord.
Much grace
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posted by Stephen Court

Good morning, friends!

It is a GORGEOUS morning out here, I was up early enjoying each blade of grass, every chirping bird and all the angry commuters stuck in traffic. (!)

I love how our God is all about even the littlest details that will bring His children delight.
You see, since I moved from Vancouver to London, Ontario there are a lot of things that I've been pining for...and God is providing.

Here's my testimony of God's faithfulness: I have a temporary job this week where I ride the bus every day and yesterday on my way to work I met a chap named "Lightning Lloyd" who was keen to share his life's adventures with me, acting out some parts for my enjoyment. The best part was when the bus arrived, I said "Lloyd, are you coming on this bus?" and he said "No, I work across the street. I'll see you later." Imagine, standing at the bus stop just to chat to folks! He must've been really lonely. Or - God wove him into my path for my benefit.

On the way home from work, I ran into someone that I'd met years ago (I grew up here in London) named Dieter, who is the official cart collector at the local grocery store. We went to school together, although he was in the 'special ed' classes. We talked about anything and everything in the most enjoyable way, and it wasn't until a couple of girls on the bus snickered at his enthusiastic farewell to me that I realized that enjoying heart-felt, earnest conversation with special-ed Dieter like it was the most normal thing in the world, was another gift from my Heavenly Dad.

This morning on the bus a woman and man got on downtown and right away they reminded me of the DTES. I admit that I leaned in a bit to see if they housed any familiar smells - and they did - it was that 'we smoke too many rolled cigarettes in our home and don't wash our clothes ever' scent that made my heart leap. (I know it sounds callous, but I'm being totally serious here) I was able to offer to share some of my lunch with the lady, who politely declined even though she had been groaning about how hungry she was for blocks. I thought that I should like to see her again and I told God so, so I expect that I shall.

Before the Martyrs' session of The War College left for their summer deployment, we discussed the things that God had planted in us through 614 Vancouver that we would take with us wherever we went. There were lots of things that we could list off, but today, I realize that one of the best gifts that God planted in my heart is an unbiased love of the poor that isn't based on my geographical location.


Deuteronomy 15:7-8,10-11, The Message

"When you happen on someone who's in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that GOD, your God, is giving you, don't look the other way pretending you don't see him. Don't keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don't count the cost...give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart.
The way you handle matters like this triggers GOD, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors."


Hallelujah!
Heather Dolby
614 London
Death and Glory
MMCCXX

Wounding

Xander Coleman bit William Booth (top right) on this one: To save men is a desperate, agonizing, wounding business.
William Booth
grace
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PC outdoes Apple???
This might be the only time, but for those of you still on PC, take advantage of this one - Darren Hailes (top right) has scored a way to find your nieghbourhood from way out in space. It is pretty amazing. I found my folks' home and could find the vehicle in the driveway! One hint- keep zooming after the picture comes up.

This will be very useful for spiritual mapping and prayer-walk strategizing...
grace
stephenc

Beloved Christian Leader Slain in France

from Fox news... TAIZE, France  — Brother Roger, the 90-year-old founder of an ecumenical religious community dedicated to peace and reconciliation, was knifed to death by a woman at an evening prayer service attended by 2,500 people, authorities said.

An all-night prayer vigil was held following the fatal attack Tuesday night in the church at Taizé, in Burgundy.

A Romanian woman wielding a knife killed silver-haired Brother Roger (search), witnesses said. A community spokesman, Brother Emile, said the monk's throat was cut and he died 15 minutes later.

Brother Roger, a Swiss Protestant, founded the Taizé religious community in 1940, emphasizing the need for all Christians to come together in peace, love and reconciliation.

The Taizé ecumenical community, which is near Macon, 240 miles southeast of Paris, draws tens of thousands of Christian youths from around the world each year for prayer and meditation.
____
grace
stephenc

August 17, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I used to spell faith, r-i-s-k. I figured that if you can pull something off based on your skills, abilities, understanding, resources, friendship network, or gifts, you didn't really have to trust God much.
grace
stephenc

Benny

Alright, I'll have a go at it. I've already blogged on aspects of the meeting already ("I wouldn't give a second of my life..." and 1,000 to get saved) but haven't put up his name.

But we went to a meeting at GM Place on Friday with Benny Hinn preaching. Disclaimer: I've not watched the TV; I have heard the criticisms (overdose on HS; bad theology; fake healings; cash issues; flamboyant; etc.). I've read some books by him (a decade ago). But I am not dealing with any of that right now (imagine if every time you preached everyone dug into every thing you've said and done over the last decade. That is another blog...).

Here are some reflections on the meeting alone (not taking into account anything outside the meeting):

- Christocentric. Almost defiantly. I must have heard 'Jesus' 500 times and Holy Spirit maybe once or twice;
- Orthodox. The preacher took pains to explain (as best as he could) the trinity, the divinity of Christ, the reality of hell, and other basic Christian doctrine.
- Solid preaching. Over the four hours, I heard four good preaches. They were not manipulative, or overly persuasive- mostly Bible verses strung together.
- Conversions. Probably 1,000 positively responded to a clear presentation of an uncompromised Gospel. Hallelujah.
- Graciousness. A couple of crackerjacks fooled the screeners and caught a little mike time. Hinn was very gracious to them.
- Humility. When being prayed over there were no flung tunics or anything. There were soft, humble prayers of thanksgiving to God.
- Focus. The preacher celebrated that the conversions were the real miracle.
- Healings. Yes, it appears many people got saved. There were some powerful testimonies to that effect. Praise God.
- Teaching. There were loads of nuggets, including a small pile on foriveness and healing being twins (front and back of the cross- good stuff).
- Modesty. The guy was wearing a high collar. Nothing outlandish there.
- Cash. The pitch for the offering was understated. Something like, "You know your duty. You know your responsibility. Ask God what you are to do." Nothing more than you (should) get on Sunday morning (and maybe less).
- Worship. This was a four-hour meeting that was either preaching or worship the whole time.
- Format. Classic. Benny didn't pray for people to be healed. We all worshipped Jesus for at least half an hour a couple of horus into the meeting and then asked God to heal. Afterwards, some testified to being healed. So there was no pressure on or glory to Benny- it all went to Jesus.
- Experience. It is rare for me to get to worship with 15,000 (or so) people. It was a joy (and an endurance test).
- Problems. I usually have issues with most preaches. Here are a few:
-- 'You will get healed'. I choose to believe he was building faith. During the prayer meeting he actually said, 'maybe tonight is the day that everyone gets healed.' This is more in line with my faith.
-- 'We all sin every day'. As a Salvo, I obviously disagree. But that is no worse than practically every non-Salvo preacher (and, tragically, most Salvo preachers).
-- 'God becoming Jesus'. I forget the exact quote but it was off. But it was embedded in paragraphs of solid trinitarian theology. I am going to look at it as mis-speaking something during the preach, something I often do.
-- 'First man of God (to come to Vancouver) since Kathryn Kuhlman...' - Benny didn't say this (someone else did) but it was such a stupid thing it was quite funny. These problems aren't huge and I can deal with them.
- Disappointments. That some very sick people didn't get healed. God bring healing, please.

It was a privilege to be there. All glory to God.

There you go- quick comments on a Salvation meeting. Please refrain from sending me links claiming that Benny is the spawn of satan (revolution@mmccxx.net).
Much grace
StephenC

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

We're looking to raise up intercessors for London 614 (Canada). If you're up for it, fire me an email, please, at revolution@mmccxx.net.
Thanks
grace
stepehnc
posted by Stephen Court

August 15, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
Thanks again for your patience on the delay of the blog- there are a lot that you missed since the tenth when our internet got blocked, so read on...

We are big supporters of extremeprophetic tv and ministries with Patricia King. She has done another gutsy thing on her site (which I recommend- extxremeprophetic.com)- Ask Patricia. So go ahead. But I am blogging it to highlight one of the questions and her answer. You can go there at http://www.extremeprophetic.com/ask_patricia.htm and I'll give you a hint- it's the one about Catherine Booth...

Grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

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

Sorry for the missing days- we've been blogging but nothing has been going up- we've been working on it.

Stephen Bell is a warrior in our neighbourhood and he's starting blogging at http://stephenbell614.blogspot.com/. they are pretty indepth blogs so far so be prepared to read and be challenged.

I just finished reading Commissioner Ed Read's book KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT again. There is some important stuff in there. I recommend it to those who care about covenant and haven't read it yet.

I was at a meeting a couple of nights ago and abotu 1,000 people responded to the salvation pitch. I think that's the most I've seen live since we took a busload from Campbellford (my first appointment) to Bill Graham at the SkyDome (Toronto). Hallelujah

May God bless you this week with successful evangelism.

Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Romans 12:3-18 - a word from the Word

Dear friends:

I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you.

Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, (wait a sec...are you LIVING in the reality of pure grace??) it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we?

So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body (that's YOU!!), let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, WITHOUT enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. (did you catch that one?)

So here's the deal:

If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else;

if you help, just help, don't take over;

if you teach, stick to your teaching;

if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy;

if you're put in charge, don't manipulate;

if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond;

if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. :-D

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it.
Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.

Be good friends who love deeply;

practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.

Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.
Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.

Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody."

with grace,
Heather Dolby
Death and Glory
MMCCXX

FIGHTING ON

M. Stark penned some killer words (SASB 703) and I've altered them just a bit so that they fit the old standby tune- TRADING MY SORROWS. I think it might give new life to both the words and the tune. WHy not give it a try at your next meeting?

Fighting On
M.Stark (sasb 703; tune-trading my sorrows)

verse (I’m TRADING)
We’re fighting for Jesus! Everyone to your post;
Go, care for the dying; go, seek for the lost;
See the billions who're drifting to Hell's endless woe,
O who in the name of Jehovah will go?

Chorus (YES, LORD)
Fighting on, we’re fighting on;
Fighting on, we’re fighting on;
With the blood and fire we’re fighting on

(PERSECUTED PART)
To the war! to the war! who'll the war cry obey?
'Tis the great God who calls you to fight while 'tis day;
Though the battle be fierce, and though mighty the foe,
The Salvation Army to victory must go.

(TWO LINE BRIDGE)
The converts now joyfully shout: To the war we will go!
____
Let me know how it goes (revolution@mmccxx.net).
grace
stephenc

August 13, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I heard a preacher say yesterday: "I wouldn't give a second of my life for all the wealth in the world. It doesn't mean a thing to me."

Nice. Comments? (revolution@mmccxx.net)
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

high collar relevant!
Well, we have confirmation from outside our little circle (if MoPed's crazy album cover in New Zealand wasn't enough). Peter Lublink (lublink.blogspot.com) argues that high collar works.

My only issue is that he suggests it doesn't work with youth.
I know some cool young guys who sport (high collar) who might beg to differ.
grace
stephenc

new site
There is a sharp new SA corps youth site at http://torchonline.ca/ Give it a whirl.
grace
stephenc

August 12, 2005.

BE A HERO

Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
This campaign is aiming to raise up 10,000 heroes who undertake five actions to bless children-at-risk. At a recent SA event, many people responded. I just received the numbers last night:
Advocate- 383
Child Sponsorship- 398
Hero Holiday- 262
Pray the Bible- 525
Children's Home/Project- 296
Hallelujah.

Are you a hero, by this definition? Why not rev up your cell group or home Bible study or youth group or band or friendship network and go for it together? You can change some lives and make a difference. You can email me at revolution@mmccxx.net for details.
Much grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

August 11, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
A few things...
- I just got back from a nearly 3 hour worship session. I guess some of our crew were a little dry and wanted to do some marinating. One of the songs was release the grease (from Job 29:6- footsteps bathed in butter).

- I just heard from a senior officer who was mentored by an assistant of William Booth. He once asked ths guy why Booth was so successful. The answer? "Booth believed in hell." I know some soldiers who don't. Hmm.

- On the main menu page of armybarmy.com is the I'LL FIGHT FEST with heaps of bands and Danielle and (me).

- ACC is coming up fast. It is free if you are outside of the host divisions. September 30-October 2 plus an officers councils (for you officers) with General Burrows. You shoul dcheck the site (see main armybarmy.com page) for details.

- Ah, people usually disagree when I suggest that it is godly to mock. I found, today, in PTB, NLT, that Yahweh 'mocks at mockers (Proverbs 3:34). Please, don't disagree anymore.

- God is great and God is good...
Much grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

new blog

Welcome back to John McAlister and welcome to Rochelle, who are blogging together at www.johnandrochelle.blogspot.com.
grace
sec

guitar tips

Karyn Baker (http://www.karynbaker.blogspot.com/) offer ssome on August 7. But if you don't want to be challenged, don't keep reading back..
grace
stephenc

South Park pro-life

Disclaimer: I've never watched South Park and know very little about it.

But I just read this from my favourite not-Christian blog (Best of the Web at opinionjournal.com) (quoting "South Park Conservatives" author Brian Anderson, in an April op-ed in the Dallas Morning News ):

"Mr. Garrison, now a "woman," mistakenly thinks he's pregnant--and that makes him very happy because he can rush off to get an abortion, and so prove that he's a real woman. Here's the key exchange, at a Planned Parenthood center:

Garrison: Hello, doctor. Looks like I need an abortion.

Doctor: An abortion?

Garrison: Yeah, I've got one growing inside of me. Now are you gonna scramble its brains or just vacuum it out?

"The doctor then tells Mr. Garrison that he can't have an abortion because he can't get pregnant: His sex change is ultimately cosmetic. Mr. Garrison is crestfallen: "You mean I'll never know what it feels like to have a baby growing inside me and then scramble its brains and vacuum it out?" The doctor responds: "Nnn . . . that's right."

"(this is BotW again) [Matt] Stone and his fellow thirtysomething colleague, Trey Parker, portray both abortion and sex-change operations in ways Robert Bork would endorse wholeheartedly--but do so in one of the most offensively vulgar half-hours in television history. Now that's subversive."
____
grace
stephenc

for the record...
Just in case it doesn't always come out in the blog, one of our bloggers is a limited, small, mediocre, unimportant, ineffective person who is very much loved by Jesus Christ.
much grace
sec

keys to wisdom

In Proverbs 3:3 loyalty and kindness are keys. Praise God. We want to be known as both loyal and kind. We're to wear them like necklaces and write them deep on our hearts.

grace
sec

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

I saw parts of METH AND DEATH, a video on how Maple Ridge is tackling the crystal meth problem. It was great. Praise God for the initiative and results. Police and politiicans were giving props to The Army for making the difference. Hallelujah!

Grace,
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

still prolife

From opinionjournal.com I saw this from Mario Cuomo, who is apparently against the influence of Catholic teaching on Supreme Court justices.

The argument against him was made by himself. Here's the 1984 Cuomo:

"The same amendment of the Constitution that forbids the establishment of a State Church affirms my legal right to argue that my religious belief would serve well as an article of our universal public morality. I may use the prescribed processes of government--the legislative and executive and judicial processes--to convince my fellow citizens--Jews and Protestants and Buddhists and non-believers--that what I propose is as beneficial for them as I believe it is for me; that it is not just parochial or narrowly sectarian but fulfills a human desire for order, peace, justice, kindness, love, any of the values most of us agree are desirable even apart from their specific religious base or context. . . .

"I can, if I wish, argue that the State should not fund the use of contraceptive devices not because the Pope demands it but because I think that the whole community--for the good of the whole community--should not sever sex from an openness to the creation of life.

"And surely, I can, if so inclined, demand some kind of law against abortion not because my Bishops say it is wrong but because I think that the whole community, regardless of its religious beliefs, should agree on the importance of protecting life--including life in the womb, which is at the very least potentially human and should not be extinguished casually.

"No law prevents us from advocating any of these things: I am free to do so.

"So are the Bishops. And so is Reverend [Jerry] Falwell [a 1980s "religious right" figure].
____
grace,
sec

PTB

I know some are interested in PTB- there is a site that decribes it, all of it Stacey and Wesley Campbell's stuff (their sites are revivalnow.com and beahero.org), at http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/WWW_USC.nsf/766d2187c97e6bf180256cf4005d2284/54da3d5e390421978625702200718705/$FILE/PTB%20slides.pdf
grace
sec

August 9, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

In a discussion on glory fits today someone asked if we'd ever been pushed. My response: It isn't whether you've every been pushed. It is if you've ever pushed.

grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Dr. Nku

He is a soldier and governor of Kinshasa, Congo. The story below describes his experiences in thie major responsibility (he was appointed to the position for a two year term).

From the article:

"Asked whether Salvationists should engage in politics, he replied, ‘If given the chance they should, proclaiming the gospel by example. All my colleagues and superiors knew I was a Salvationist. They used to call me "this pastor"! Yes, though the Army is non-party political, we can participate as individuals in the political field – in fact we should do so. If we are many we can transform society. It’s true that it’s easy to become dirty in politics. But if the right man takes the place, he can change things. He shouldn’t be afraid. The right man must take the position. If we refuse to do so we can make what efforts we like, but it will be impossible to change things because access to power and money go with the appointment. Yes, it’s dangerous. That’s why before every meeting of the politburo we prayed.’

"The highlight, Dr Nku recalled, was the day of handover to his successor. ‘A huge crowd, including hundreds of Salvationists and the Army band, had gathered. After the speeches, the official documents were signed and handed over. At that moment the band started to play and the Salvationists sang "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord", with its chorus: "No, never alone". As the song finished everyone was silent. I moved across to congratulate my successor, and then it happened – a large sign was held up for all to see: Dr David Nku, No Stain! That was the greatest moment of my life. God had been with me. It was true, I had never been left alone – never!’

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/92F8D25D0943360B802570260034C51B?opendocument&id=02AB8CC3AC749E4F80257026002F17CD
grace
stephenc

Comm. Gaither
SALVATIONIST (you may note that I've rediscovered SALVATIONIST, after its site update), has an informative interview with the Chief of the Staff: http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/70B925CAF24999728025704D003C05D6?opendocument&id=64B3D892D0540C7C8025704D0039CFC3
grace
sec

revitalised meetings...

Salvationist records General Larsson's argument in favour...
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/70B925CAF24999728025704D003C05D6?opendocument&id=64B3D892D0540C7C8025704D0039CFC3
grace
stephenc

old worship debate...
Hi- SALVATIONIST recently gnawed on this old bone in an interesting manner:
http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-issue/CFA17A21D8BACC668025704D003C9574?opendocument&id=64B3D892D0540C7C8025704D0039CFC3
grace
sec

cannabis bust

Thanks, Rob, for the update. Praise God. I was struck by the following quote from Rob's blog (from the cannabis gang):

"Every grower has to decide what level of revolution they want to partake of, how much risk, how much they're prepared to gain and lose, how much worry, stress and pressure they can take.

"Only you can decide how much hurt you can handle. If you have a family, lovers, children or others who can be hurt by your choices, you have to be extremely ethical in your calculations of risk, reward, and penalties.

This, of course, applies as easily to us. This is not talk for them, but lifestyle. I'd hate to be outted as a revolution-pansey by pot-smokers. Wouldn't you?

grace,
sec

grace guy:

Hey, wouldn't it be great to be known as a grace guy?!
grace
stephenc

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

I was reading a book this weekend by a big grace guy (the kind of guy I get accused of not reading enough) and was struck by his argument that Jesus didn't care about the families of His friends. His friendships were all mission-centred. This is the grace guy, not me.

But I agree. I've always that the fellowship is in the fight. The grace guy backs me up. And Jesus, of course...
grace
stephenc

Emery Seeds Shutdown by DEA
Check this out.

After three years of spritual attack on this specific evil empire in Vancouvers Downtown there has been some major breakthrough. The last attach was in mid July wuth a BTI crew. We raided the B.C. Marijuana Party HQ with prayer, worship and evangelism calling forth justice, and now The BCMP seed selling business has been brought to its knees. This has been called " ... the worst attach on the Marijuana culture in history." Nice, keep praying up a final victory on this one, the seed selling business has been shut down, but the Pot Cafe's are still open where many young people go to get high, but worse get sucked into a culture of rebellion, lawlessness and death. This is a big victory for the kingdom and lets give all the credit to the LORD. Lets be encouraged that as God calls us to take the land we are seeing results. This one came after three years with very little fruit but through perseverence we have overcome !

How cool is it that this attack was fought by a Booth Tucker Institute brigade.
Maybee you should sign up for next year !!!!!

Below is some comments from the cannabisculture.com web site. Check out the story and lets strike the final blow to the enemy on this one.




All this below is from the BCMP web site.

Facts about the DEA raids and growing pot

Marc Emery's seed company was raided Friday, July 29, by Canadian agents acting under orders from the DEA.

The police might be onto you, regardless of whether you ordered seeds from Emery, or from his competitors such as Gypsy Nirvana (Seeds Direct), Heaven's Stairway, etc.
If you have a garden and you should shut it down but you don't, and you get raided, what do you have?


Every grower has to decide what level of revolution they want to partake of, how much risk, how much they're prepared to gain and lose, how much worry, stress and pressure they can take.


Only you can decide how much hurt you can handle. If you have a family, lovers, children or others who can be hurt by your choices, you have to be extremely ethical in your calculations of risk, reward, and penalties.


Others have reacted by applauding the arrest. There are some marijuana websites, such as www.overgrow.com, where people who claim to be marijuana users celebrate Emery's demise. Funny that these so-called potheads say the same things about Emery that DEA agents have said. Some of them might be DEA agents. When people are on internet sites using fake names, they can be or say anything they want.

The bottom line is, if you are involved in revolutionary plant growing, you are at risk. Deal with it.

If the DEA wants to shut down ALL marijuana seed retailers in the world, and screw a lot of growers, for sure they can do so. They have the power, they have the intent, and they have the guns.


Keep safe the genetics of all the herbs that our Creator has given us, and try not to let the drug warriors, the assholes who hate Marc Emery, or the evil governments scare you so much that you give up on being free.

That's the best advice we can give you.

August 7, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.

General Wickberg wrote, probably about 35 years ago:
"As I consider the problems which we are facing today I confess that I stand in need of a greater grace than ever before. I need not speak of the permissive society- of the excesses of pornography and sexual license, of the oppression of nations and races, of the curse of drug-taking and the victims of acoholism. The Salvation Army cannot and will not stand aside. We are involved in this society, we suffer with the sufferers, we protest with our uniform, our songs, our lives. Nevertheless, we stand in need of all the grace that God can give to keep a stout heart and goodly proportion of that apostolic optimism that is so badly needed today. But that grace is available."

Nice. Alright, some comments.

- 'Greater grace'. Amen. And, so, today, a generation or so later, as well.
- the problems are about the same as back then. Not to criticise the efforts of our parents, but it seems that the protest of uniform and song and lives wasn't enough to stem the flood of sin, let alone reverse the flow. Again, that is not criticism, just observation. We need something more than uniform and song and lives in protest. No shame in that. William and Catherine needed those three plus 393,000 signatures (and an elaborate demonstration) to effectively protest against child prostitution.
- But our response must be as bold as it was then. We cannot and will not stand aside. The problem now is that we've been marginalized eveb more than we were then. So even to stand up is to stand on the sidelines. Our response must be to stand and plunge into the thick of it.
- We must still suffer with the sufferers.
- 'apostolic optimism' is another keeper. We shall win if we fight in the strength of the King. Or, as Phil Wall continuously reminds us, 'the best days of The Salvation Army are still to come'.

So God, please pour out greater grace and apostolic optimism.
Much grace,
StephenC
posted by Stephen Court

Another General comment

This is the third of the day...
General Arnold Brown said this:
"The spiritual and material needs of man are linked in every aspect of his existence, and teh Salvationist, under God, must minister to both."

Your comments are welcome at revolution@mmccxx.net.
grace,
stephenc

prayer strategy

General George Carpenter advises: "In the matter of revitalising the general spirit of prayer, many of us would be helped if we sought out a few choice spirits in our corps and secured their more active cooperation."

How does that look? Different on every front. But Carpenter makes these specific suggestions:
"Talk to these key people individually.
"Carry their judgement.
"Get them to admit the need for as much attention to be given to the prayer meeting as to polishing off the band selection" (feel free to substitute any other activity or programme for band selection).
"Secure their active interest.
"Make them strategic points in your field of battle on a Sunday night." (the traditional time of salvation meeting prayer wars)

There you go. I love that the General talks like he does in the last line. There is no sheepishness about the war lingo. He was in a war. And he knew how valuable key intercessors and fishers were in those Salvation battles. You need some comrades like that, too. Praise God we have some here.

grace
stephenc

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

Sorry about yesterday- a rare day without a fresh blog. I hope you took the opportunity to check out blog archives backa couple of years or to peruse the new issue of JAC (both top right). How cshiocking is it that none of the six armybarmy bloggers showed up yesterday!? Wow.

Anyway, I will make up for it today, I promise.

General Tillsley says, "If you want to find a person's character, find out what makes him laugh and what makes him weep. We need to weep over the sins of the world."

There is a new book by a monk-type who describes an evening conversation between some brothers about the ungrateful, hypocritical, slacker catholics who were benefitng from their service. One brother was silent until the end of the discussion (which, not coincidently, coincided with this comment) when he observed, "They don't understand."

His reponse was sadness and compassion instead of rebuke and ridicule. Tillsley would have found character in that character.

As for me, I don't know. It is difficult to do the self-examination (as those of you who regularly work through the Soldiers O+R self-examination can attest). It is a good thing I've got some faithful comrades who hold up the mirror, and soemtimes the (water)gun. Have you?
Much grace,
Stephen C
posted by Stephen Court

August 4, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
hbhmg

So I was reading this: 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

And I was struck that those of us who repent and believe and accept Jesus' invitation into His life are not only born again and new creations but we actually join a new race.

This should have liberating implications for the more marginalized in our cultures.

Much grace,
Stephen C
posted by Stephen Court

August 3, 2005.
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
I know it is technically the 4th but only by a few moments.

My friend just bought a book called THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FOOLISH (Okay, good name). Anyway, on page 28, it mentions how true to the Gospel message is 'The Salvation Army slogan, 'Jesus Saves''.

I never knew. We made THAT up!?

Wow. My appreciation of The Salvation Army grows by the week.
Hallelujah.
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

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

The new issue of JAC came out yesterday (top right). Please avail yourselves of the conviction on the screen by many committed warriors. Here's a quick rundown: We kick it off with an exclusive preview of the new book REVOLUTION. Co-author Aaron White describes the exciting story of the Moravians and their impact on the world in which we live.

Mary Park wrote Come Forth. It is a hard core call to primitive salvationism in the ranks and on the fronts today. It has some keeper quotes you'll want to copy and save.

Captain Andrew Clark addresses the issue of a modern Salvation Army in a post-modern world, and from the premise that we are and are called to be counter-cultural, suggests three actions to increase our effectiveness in the mil-3 war: celebrate and liberate the individual; develop an experiential, or 'de-clericalized theology'.

Commissioner Wesley Harris is on about a 'Salvation' Army. Just playing the part won't cut it in the heat of battle. As usual, he's slipped in a couple of wonderful illustrations. I've actually seen his illustration file in Australia- decades of newspaper clippings, all for the glory of God!

Patricia King offers two devotionals- part 1- Standing In The Evil Day, which is an exhortation to stand strong in the great salvation war, and part 2, Living in Commanded Blessing, to cheer you up a bit after part 1, on the privileges and Biblical responsibilities of God's blessing.

Darrell Pilgrim asks Two Questions. What is our purpose? What are you doing to realize it? Rubber is hitting road here.

Phil Wall shares The Poison Revolution. Phil reflects on two recent revolutions and the lessons of short-termism and character that harnesses passion and sacrificial action.

Captain Christin Kapp- The Stuff Of Revolution. Christin challenges us to re-discover who we are in Christ, fundamentally living out the Gospel in the real world instead of the church cocoon.

And Kathryn Allen wrote Homeless. In it she recounts a challenging open air meeting and the surprising recipients of conviction.

‘A 614 Neighbourhood’ is a lesson preached by Captain Shaun Belanger after his experience at Booth-Tucker Institute.

Why not read it, download it, check some archived issues, blog it, and recommend specific articles to ten friends?
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

Chins tucked

We're not unaware of the devil's schemes. There is some opposition, and my friend, Michael, advises, "Let's keep our chins tucked in."

Amen.

grace
stephenc

kids

I got an email from an Aussie Salvo whose Junior Soldiers have passed up the book awards and are pitching in cash for a children's home. Nice.

My son (3) was visiting a church the other day and left saying, 'they're good people'.

Let's not underestimate the kids. General William Booth said, “Pay 10,000 more times attention to the children, but don’t neglect the adults.”

grace,
stephenc

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

I heard a preach about saying yes to the promises of God in Christ (they are all yes and amen). It was about receiving and not having to work or perform to get what God has for us.

It's been a bit itchy since then. It was good teaching (could have unpacked 'yes' to include repentence and consecration). But I've left wanting to do more.

It's sort of the opposite of what was taught.

It had more to do with the congregation, the context, the commitment there to mission, the big vision, the victories, and the esprit de corps.

So, I was taught to accept- that's all. And I leave figuring I need to ratchet it up.

Hmm. some funky worship, though (sing sing sing- and other songs I didn't know- I love when I don't know any songs because it gives me new ways to express my love...).
grace
stephenc
posted by Stephen Court

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

Right now Linsey is wrapping up a 24 hour shift in the War Room. The War Room is a 24-7 prayer room that has been running at our corps since February 04 non-stop. THis is teh first day-long shift anyone has done (we normally do 3 hour shifts). Praise God.

This week is jubilee connect week. We've postponed a lot of scheduled things in hopes of making new and deeper connections with people in our corps. I hope it works...
Much grace
stephenc